The Nature of Things: Contemporary Japanese Woven Sculpture

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nature

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CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE WOVEN SCULPTURE

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THE NATURE OF THINGS: CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE WOVEN SCULPTURE Six years ago Chizu Sekiguchi, contemporary basket maker and teacher, created an exhibit for us called Contained Excitement. We are thrilled that she has agreed to organize another exhibition for us this summer of contemporary Japanese woven sculpture.

Sekiguchi-san chose these second, third, and fourth generation artists who are breaking away from traditional bamboo forms, using materials ranging from palm fronds, kudzu fiber, and leaf skeletons, to wire, industrial plastic sheets and paper masking tape.

As in the first exhibition, some of the artists in The Nature of Things were inspired by, or were students of Chizu Sekiguchi. She was inspired by Hisako Sekijima (not in the show) who came to the United States in the late 70's. Once here, she was motivated by Ed Rossbach, John McQueen and Kay Sekimachi, some of the artists recognized as bringing the woven basket form into the arena of contemporary art.

This exhibition falls snugly into our program of exploring the alchemical connection between the artist and the natural world, as a vehicle of present day animism. Even those works made of non-natural materials are commentaries on the rhythms, textures, and the artists’ deep personal responses to place, plants, environments, and the sacred spaces contained within vessels and enclosed forms. They subtly reveal their secrets. The artists have wrestled and changed those natural forms, abstracting them into exquisite small sculptures that reference Nature and yet transform it as well. Sometimes it seems the hand naturally organizes and weaves materials together as a form of contemplative meditation.

In this exhibition most of the 'basket' form has moved beyond function. The earliest forms of mankind's weavings were probably containers and textiles. Their forms evolved with culture for thousands of years, ultimately transforming from utilitarian objects to objects made for art's sake. None are as simple as they might seem. Their complexity comes from the human element in their conceptions, and the human satisfaction in the range of their multiple forms.

- Randall Morris, 2018

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CHIAKI DOSHO MICHIKO FUKAI SHOKO FUKUDA KAKUKO ISHII SACHIKO ITABASHI RITSUKO JINNOUCHI MIEKO KAWASE YUKARI KIKUCHI PEKE KIMURA YOHKO KUBO YOSHI MAEJIMA HIROKO OKUNO CHIZO SEKIGUCHI JARUKO SUGAWARA SHIZUKO TAKAHASHI MICHIKO TAMURA TOSHIKO UCHINO MAKIKO WAKISAKA YAMAMOTO AMAYOKASIM EMIKO YOSHIYA

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Ritsuko Jinnouchi, Replacement 1, 2015, Plaited walnut

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bark, 11.81 x 10.24 x 10.24 inches, 30 x 26 x 26 cm, RJi 8

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Ritsuko Jinnouchi, TETRA 5 (Four Direction Structure 5), 2013, Plaited Vitis Coignetia (Grape vine), 7.09 x 6.1 x 7.48 inches, 18 x 15.5 x 19 cm, RJi 7

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Ritsuko Jinnouchi, Blue Square, 2016, Plaited and melted polypropylene tape, 7.48 x 16.54 x 16.54 inches, 19 x 42 x 42 cm, RJi 9

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Hiroko Okuno, The Challenge of Materials, 2018, Knotted, kozo and hin

noki (Japanese cypress), 6.5 x 6 x 12 inches, 16.5 x 15.2 x 30.5 cm, HOk 4

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Hiroko Okuno, The Challenge of Materials, 2015, Twined akebi vine, ko

ozo, shirakaba, wool, 7.87 x 5.91 x 15.75 inches, 20 x 15 x 40 cm, HOk 6

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Hiroko Okuno, The Challenge of Materials, 2015, Knotted kozo

o, shirakaba, 7.87 x 13.78 x 7.87 inches, 20 x 35 x 20 cm, HOk 5

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Chizu Sekiguchi, Morning Dew, 2018, Plaited and sewn windmill palm, 4.5 x 8 x 8 inches, 11.4 x 20.3 x 20.3 cm, ChS 15

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Chizu Sekiguchi, Deep Sea, 2018, Tied and sewn Cordyline Australis, 6 x 12 x 11 inches, 15.2 x 30.5 x 27.9 cm, ChS 13

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Chizu Sekiguchi, Brown Line, 2015, Plaited and sewn windmill pal

lm, walnut bark, 10.5 x 7 x 7 inches, 26.7 x 17.8 x 17.8 cm, ChS 14

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Haruko Sugawara, Japanese Sunset Clouds (set of 3), 2016, St

tainless steel, 6.69 x 10.63 x 6.69 inches,17 x 27 x 17 cm, HSu 1

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Haruko Sugawara, New Life (set of 5), 2016, Stainless

s steel, 9.84 x 9.84 x 6.3 inches, 25 x 25 x 16 cm, HSu 2

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Kakuko Ishii, Musubu, 2016, Knotted paper strin

ngs, a. 11 x 6 x 6 inches, b. 11 x 6 x 6 inches, KIS 2

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Yohko Kubo, Modeled after.... Cube, 2010, Polycarbonate, copper wire, 3.94 x 3.94 x 3.94 inches, 10 x 10 x 10 cm, Kub 2

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Yohko Kubo, Modeled after.... Lemon (1 pair), 2014, Aluminum paper, polyester yarn, a. 13 x 6.5 x 6.5 cm, b. 14 x 6 x 6 cm, Kub 1

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Yohko Kubo, Modeled after.... Gourd, 2018, Aluminum paper, polyester yarn, a. 26 x 11 x 11 cm, b. 18 x 9 x 9, Kub 3

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Michiko Tamura, Untitled, 2017, Abaca, 11 x 7 x 7 inches, 27.9 x 17.8 x 17.8 cm, MiT 3

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Michiko Tamura, Untitled, 2017, Dracaena, abaca, 3 x 19 x 3 inches, 7.6 x 48.3 x 7.6 cm, MiT 2

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Michiko Tamura, Untitled, 2010, Dracaena (Dragon tree), 8 x 8 x 8 inches, 20.3 x 20.3 x 20.3 cm, MiT 1

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Kakuko Ishii, Musubu, 2017, Knotted paper strings,

, 7.87 x 15.75 x 15.75 inches, 20 x 40 x 40 cm, KIS 1

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Chiaki Dosho, Borderline, 2018, Japanese old Kimono silk, polyester and rayon thread, washi paper, 7.87 x 7.87 x 7.87 inches, 20 x 20 x 20 cm, ChD 2

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Chiaki Dosho, Heart II, 2017, Japanese old Kimono silk, polyester and rayon thread, 7.87 x 7.87 x 7.87 inches, 20 x 20 x 20 cm,ChD 1

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Emiko Yoshiya, Lotus #11 - Sazanami Series, 2011-2012, Basho (Japa

anese Banana fiber), 2.5 x 12 x 12 inches, 6.4 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm, EYo 2

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Michiko Fukai, The Wave II, 2015, Rattan, stainless steel, 4.33 x 9.84 x 7.87 inches, 11 x 25 x 20 cm, MFu 5

Michiko Fukai, The Wave I, 2015, Rattan, stainless ste

eel, 7.48 x 9.84 x 7.09 inches, 19 x 25 x 18 cm, MFu 6

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Mieko Kawase, Red 2, 2017, Wire, 6 x 7 x 7 inches, 15.2 x 17.8 x 17.8 cm, MKe 11

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Mieko Kawase, Red 1, 2017, Wire, 5.5 x 7.25 x 7.25 inches, 14 x 18.4 x 18.4 cm, MKe 10

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Mieko Kawase, Red 3, 2017, Wire, 4 x 7 x 7 inches, 10.2 x 17.8 x 17.8 cm, MKe 12

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Mieko Kawase, Red 4, 2017, Wire, 3.5 x 4.5 x 8 inches, 8.9 x 11.4 x 20.3 cm, MKe 13

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Makiko Wakisaka, Atmosphere, 2018, Leaf veins, nylon th

hread, 3.94 x 7.48 x 7.48 inches, 10 x 19 x 19 cm, MWak 1

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Makiko Wakisaka, Embrace, 2018, Leaf veins, nylon thre

ead, 5.91 x 8.27 x 8.27 inches, 15 x 21 x 21 cm, MWak 2

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Makiko Wakisaka, Confetti, 2018, Leaf veins, nylon thre

ead, 7.48 x 7.09 x 7.09 inches, 19 x 18 x 18 cm, MWak 3

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Peke Kimura, Appearance i, 2018, Leather, 20.87 x 12.2 inches, 53 x 31 cm, PKi 1

Peke Kimura, Appearance ha, 2018, Leath

her, 13.39 x 4.72 inches, 34 x 12 cm, PKi 3

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Peke Kimura, Appearance ro, 2018, Leather, 15.75 x 5.91 inches, 40 x 15 cm, PKi 2

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Shizuko Takahashi, Loose, 2016, Japanese

e Washi paper, Various Dimensions, STa 5

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Toshiko Uchino, Circle 1, 2017, Mizuhiki, 5.51 x 16.14 x 27.56 inches, 14 x 41 x 70 cm, ToU 1

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Shizuko Takahashi, Opening and Closing, 2014, Zippers, 17 x 6 x 2 inches, 43.2 x 15.2 x 5.1 cm, STa 4

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Toshiko Uchino, Kuro no Hakyu, 2016, Mizuhiki, 9.

.06 x 14.96 x 41.73 inches, 23 x 38 x 106 cm, ToU 2

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Amayokasim Yamamoto, Spirit of Nature - Karamushi, 2012-2018, Bark of Japanese ramie, fiber from bark of Japanese ramie, sedge, 11.81 x 10.24 x 9.84 inches, 30 x 26 x 25 cm, Yam 1

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Amayokasim Yamamoto, Spirit of Nature - Kuzu, 2012-2018, Bark of arrowroot, fiber from bark of arrowroot, 11.81 x 10.24 x 10.24 inches, 30 x 26 x 26 cm, Yam 2

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Amayokasim Yamamoto, Cloth from Kuzu Fiber, 2018, Twill woven kuzu (arrowroot), 15.75 x 15.75 inches, 40 x 40 cm, Yam 3

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Amayokasim Yamamoto, Cloth from Karamushi Fiber, 2018, Plain woven fiber from Japanese ramie, 15.35 x 15.35 inches, 39 x 39 cm, Yam 4

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Yukari Kikuchi, Round / Bind, 2016, Kihada (Phellodendron amuren

nse), 1.38 x 13.39 x 13.39 inches, 3.5 x 34 x 34 cm, YKi 4

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Yukari Kikuchi, Round/ Freely, 2016, Kihada (Phellodendron a

amurense), 1.97 x .47 x 71.26 inches, 5 x 1.2 x 181 cm, YKi 5

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Yukari Kikuchi, Square / Blocks (Set of 4), 2017, Kihada (Phellodendro

on amurense), 3.74 x 3.74 x 3.74 inches, 9.5 x 9.5 x 9.5 cm (each), YKi 6

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Yoshie Maejima, Mayu II, 2017, Coiled bamboo skin and furui, 14.17 x 14.17 x 3.62 inches, 36 x 36 x 9.2 cm, YoM 2

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Yoshie Maejima, Mayu I, 2011, Coiled bamboo skin and haichyo, 13.39 x 21.26 x 5.51 inches, 34 x 54 x 14 cm, YoM 1

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Yoshie Maejima, Mayu III, 2018, Coiled bamboo skin, mayu uchiwa

a, wood box, 17.13 x 10.35 x 3.78 inches, 43.5 x 26.3 x 9.6 cm, YoM 3

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Shoko Fukuda, Helix II, 2017, Sisal, rattan, plastic, 2.36 x 7.87 x 1.97 inches, 6 x 20 x 5 cm, SFuk 3

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Shoko Fukuda, Turning Inside Out, 2013, Sisal, plastic, 4.13 x 6.5 x 4.33 inches, 10.5 x 16.5 x 11 cm, SFuk 2

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Shoko Fukuda, Helix VII Peephole, 2018, Sisal, plastic, 5.5

51 x 10.63 x 4.33 inches, 14 x 27 x 11 cm, SFuk 1

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Copyright © 2018 CAVIN-MORRIS GALLERY Cavin-Morris Gallery 210 Eleventh Ave, Ste. 201 New York, NY 10001 t. 212 226 3768 www.cavinmorris.com Catalogue design: Sophie Friedman-Pappas Photography: Jurate Veceraite Introduction contributed by Randall Morris

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CAVIN-MORRIS GALLERY

NEW YORK, NEW YORK