YA K O H O D O
Many years ago, Yako Hodo chose bamboo, a plant historically celebrated in Japan for its strength, resiliency and flexibility, as the material to express his creative ideas. He was introduced to traditional bamboo basket making by Nakajima Hoso, who taught him the fundamentals when he was a teenage apprentice. In the early 1960’s, Yako began exhibiting his artwork in public. After a move to Tokyo, he became a student of Baba Shodo, a senior bamboo artist with tremendous vision, who encouraged him to explore the possibilities of bamboo as a medium for contemporary sculpture. His work during this period was often made on a very large scale and featured the distinctive sweeping beauty of split bamboo. While Yako showed these pieces locally and nationally, his goal was acceptance by the Nitten, the annual Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition, and this was first achieved in 1973. During this time, he married a wonderful woman and spent many years crafting bamboo lampshades to support them. With patience and discipline, he set aside time to make two or three sculptures each year for submission to public exhibitions. A less determined person would have abandoned his artwork altogether.
Journey to the North 1994, 9 3/4 x 4 1/4 x 17 3/4 inches
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On the advice of Baba, in the mid-1990s he changed priorities, setting his sights on the Traditional Craft Arts Association. Since functionality is the focus of this organization, Yako had to undergo a major shift in his thinking and process, making smaller vessels that could be used for flowers. He introduced an array of warm, dyed colors to his work and retained his passion for the beautiful line of the split bamboo. Once he made this transition, a burst of creativity followed, which led to full membership in the Traditional Craft Arts Association and awards for his work. In 2000, he was recognized by the Minister of Culture with a Medal of Honor. Perhaps the most surprising part of his artistic career for Yako is the enthusiastic reception of his work in America. His art is represented in three American museums and numerous private collections. The life of an artist who chooses bamboo as his artistic medium is not easy, but if the individual has the strength, resilience, and flexibility combined with ability and creative vision great things can be accomplished, as Yako has proven. Robert T. Coffland
City 1988, 13 x 6 1/4 x 28 3/4 inches Page 6: Sound 1970, 39 1/4 x 21 1/2 x 10 1/4 inches
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A R T I S T ’S S TAT E M E N T
A R T I S T ’S S TAT E M E N T
It was fall of 1998 I received a surprising phone call. Someone from America saw my artwork at the Japan Traditional Craft Arts Exhibition and wanted to meet me. November of that year, Robert T. Coffland came to my house, and to my astonishment he came alone. He did not speak much Japanese and I did not know much English either. It was around noon when he arrived so I asked him, with my gestures, if he would like to have lunch. He said, “I like ‘katsudon’ (pork cutlet bowl) for lunch in the winter, but I prefer ‘Soba’ (buckwheat noodle) during the summer.” I ordered “katsudon” for delivery, and we ate lunch together.
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After lunch, we went to my studio and I showed him my artwork. Before I began to exhibit with the Traditional Craft Arts Organization in 1994, I created large scale bamboo sculptures and exhibited them at “Nitten”, the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition. When Mr. Coffland saw my “Nitten” pieces, he said,“Your artworks are so powerful and beautiful!” At that point I felt we connected not through words but through my work. Since this initial meeting, Mr. Coffland has visited my studio regularly, and, thank God, with interpreters. During my fifteen - year training period, I studied under four different masters learning various skills and techniques. I started to show my work at public exhibitions early in my career. In my third year, I started entering one piece per year at the local prefectural art exhibition. Back then this was quite unusual, as students were expected not to express their own ideas until they learned all of the basics. Creating pieces of my own early helped me build a foundation of my own artwork, and I sincerely appreciate my masters’ kindness for allowing me to do so. During my Nitten period, I competed in juried art exhibitions that included both Japanese and Western style paintings and sculpture in bronze and other mediums. To show beside these I created bamboo sculptures with scale, volume, and presence. For the Traditional Craft Arts exhibitions I now make vessels. Making art for me remains the same: inspiration means finding themes, new ideas of what to create, and the techniques for materializing these visions. Having my first overseas solo show is a dream come true. I would like to thank Mr. Coffland and the staff at TAI Gallery for making this happen and I am looking forward to meeting everyone who comes to the opening.
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Springtime Buds 2000, 17 x 8 1/2 x 2 inches
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Sunset at Grand Canyon 2005, 17 inch diameter x 2 inches
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Red City 2002, 8 1/2 x 31/2 x 15 inches (above) City Lights 2001, 8 3/4 x 4 x 16 inches (left)
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Uplifting 1990, 31 1/2 x 23 1/2 x 23 1/2 inches ( above ) My UFO 1979, 27 1/2 inch diameter ( left )
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Shogun of the Sea 1992, 19 1/2 x 25 1/2 x 13 3/4 inches
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Flower Basket 1963, 36 1/2 x 12 x 16 1/2 inches
A Construction 1975, 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 25 1/2 inches (above) Late Autumn 2004, 8 x 5 1/4 x 15 inches (right)
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YA K O H O D O 1940
Born in Niigata Prefecture
1956
Apprenticed to Nakajima Hoso
1961
Admitted to Niigata Prefecture Art Exhibition for the first time
1964
Studied under Nakamura Yukosai
1965
Apprenticed to Baba Shodo
1968
Winner of Tokyo Governor’s Award at Japan Art Exhibition Admitted to Nitten, Japan Fine Arts Exhibition for the first time ( thereafter 7 times )
1973 1978
Admitted to Japan Modern Craft Arts Exhibition for the first time ( thereafter 13 times, and became full member )
1979
Winner of Saitama Governor’s Award at Prefecture Arts Exhibition
1985
Group Exhibition at Saitama Arts Exhibition
1992
Judge at Saitama Prefecture Arts Exhibition
1994
Admitted to Japan Traditional Craft Arts Exhibition for the first time
1995
Solo Exhibition in Kumagaya Winner of Exceptional Technique Award ( Ministry of Labor Award )
1997
Admitted to Japan Traditional Craft Arts Exhibition Became full member of Traditional Craft Arts Association Solo Exhibition at Fukaya City Library Exhibited in “Bamboo Masterworks”, Asia Society, New York
2000
Winner of Medal from Emperor of Japan Appeared on CNN “Style” Exhibited in “Bamboo Masterworks”, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
2001
Exhibited in “Bamboo Masterworks”, Honolulu Academy of Art Exhibited in “Best Bamboo Baskets: The Cotsen Collection” at Long House Reserve, East Hampton, New York Exhibited in “Meet the Masters”, TAI Gallery, Santa Fe
2002
Exhibited in “Bamboo Masterworks”, Pacific Asia Museum Exhibited in “Bamboo Masterworks”, Field Museum
2004
Exhibited in the Hand Workshop Art Center, Richmond, Virginia
2005
Exhibited in “Weavers of Wonder”, Naples Museum of Art, Naples, Florida
2006
Exhibited in “Hin: Quiet Beauty of Japanese Bamboo Art”, Faulconer Gallery, Grinnell, Iowa and Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago Exhibited in “Beyond Basketry: Japanese Bamboo Art”, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston MUSEUM COL LECT IONS:
Mint Museum of Craft and Design; Asian Art Museum of San Francisco Springtime Buds 2000, 17 x 8 1/2 x 2 inches ( right ) Covers: Uplifting 1974, 191/2 x 101/2 x 311/2 inches ( two views ) Photography by Gary Mankus
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