Taboo in western metal practice, Kise explores the folding of the metal as it is hand formed, seeking to master the folds, encouraging them into patterns that are an integral part of the overall aesthetic.
Soft rose-coloured light emanates from the small copper drops atop his biomorphic works.
The base copper metal is formed into a variety of organic shapes and the surface is finished in urushi, Japanese lacquer.
There is a bewitching surface texture to these works that evades immediate identification – is it leather? is it ceramic?
A post-graduate student of Tohoku Art and Design University, Kise studied under Professor Kaneko Toru. Upon graduating, his status as an independent artist was secured with his selection for the prestigious Kanazawa Utatsuyama Art Studio in 2005.
After a sell-out debut in Melbourne during Australia-Japan Year of Exchange in 2006, it's no surprise that Kise went on to win a number of prizes including first prize in the Kanzawa ‘Wan-One’ Award, the MITI first prize at the 15th Annual Tableware Exhibition, and in 2008 Associate Grand Prize at the 26th Asahi Contemporary Craft Competition.
Kise’s interest in lacquer has seen him join with members of the Wajima Lacquer Research Association on a major project to recreate an 18th century incense set from the famous Date clan collection. This project involved a large number of artists from different fields in a collaborative effort to rediscover lost art techniques.
More recently, Kise has continued along this path and joined a number of other young artists engaged in a quest guided by Kanazawa Professor Yamazaki Tatsufumi and lacquer master, Unryuan Kitamura Tatsuo to preserve techniques and traditions in danger of disappearing.
