Biography
Hafu Matsumoto (b. 1952) studied under Iizuka Shokansai (designated a Living National Treasure in 1982). He then set up his workshop and moved to Tateyama in Chiba in 1988. He is known for creating works out of pieces of bamboo into beautiful organic sculptures. In 2007 he received the Tokyo Governor’s Prize at the 48th East Japan Craft Art Exhibition, and in 2014 he won the Japan Kogei Association Chairman’s prize at the 61st Dento Kogei Ten (Japanese Traditional Craft Art) exhibition. His work is in significant collections, including the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, USA.
 
Selected Biography
  • 1952 Born in Haneda, Tokyo
  • 1972 Studied bamboo art under IIZUKA Shokansai (Living National Treasure)
  • 1976 Opened a bamboo craft studio in Sunamachi, Koto Ward, Tokyo
  • 1988 Relocated studio to Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture
  • 1996 July to August: Group exhibition of bamboo art at Felissimo Design House, New York
  • 2001 Solo exhibition at Daimaru Department Store, Tokyo
  • 2003 Solo exhibition and NHK broadcast from the Gangetsu-an Tea Room, Shiroyama Park, Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture
  • 2004 Solo exhibition at Ippodo Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo
  • 2009 Invited to exhibit for "The New Bamboo - Modern Japanese Masters-" at Oita Prefectural Art Museum
  • 2011 Exhibited, lectured on bamboo craft for "From Father Shokansai to the Apprentices" about Iizuka Shokansai in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture
  • 2012 Selected for "Exhibition of Tea Ceremony Today- Utility and Form", at Musée Tomo, Toranomon, Tokyo
  • 2013 Exhibited in "The birth of modern bamboo art" at the Tochigi Kuranomachi Museum of Art
    Relocated to Minamiboso City, Chiba Prefecture
  • 2017 Solo exhibition at Ippodo New York
  • 2019 Collaborated with LOEWE (Spanish fashion brand) to release bamboo products for Milan Fashion Week

 

Awards

  • 2004 Received the "Cotsen Bamboo Prize" Semi Grand Prix, exhibited at Asian Art Museum, San Francisco
  • 2007 Received the Best New Artist Prize at the 54th Japan Kogei Exhibition
  • 2008 Received the Highest Prize "Tokyo Governor Prize" at the 48th Eastern Branch Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
  • 2014 Received the Chairman of the Japan Kogei Association Prize at the 61st Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition
Works
  • Hafu Matsumoto, Flower Basket, 2017
    Hafu Matsumoto
    Flower Basket, 2017
    Bamboo
Exhibitions
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