- Maio Motoko
- Kobayashi Shumei
- Mitsumoto Takeshi
- Nakano Kaoru
- Oyama Yasuyuki
- Kise Hiroshi
- Kaneko Toru
Lesley Kehoe Galleries Online
Lesley Kehoe Galleries Online
KOBAYASHI SHUMEI
小林 秀明
In a world created by art legend Yanagi Sōetsu, and mentored by a number of Living National Treasures across a range of practices, master tsutsugaki artist and Shugendō shaman, Kobayashi Shumei has cultivated a singular talent for traditional Japanese dyeing practices and a critical intellectual approach to the identity of the artist.
Eschewing the traditional Japanese studio practice of assigning specific techniques or processes to apprenticed specialists, Shumei is one of the very few remaining artists of the venerable 'tsutsugaki' technique and the only practitioner of the resist-based painting and dyeing art who is master of the entire process from concept to final artwork.
With many accolades and prizes throughout his illustrious career, Kobayashi has been the subject of several documentaries in Japan; led workshops and seminars in Australia sponsored by the Japan Foundation; and delivered numerous lectures and demonstrations of traditional dyeing techniques at museums and professional institutions worldwide.
From ancient times, humans have acknowledged water’s scarcity and significance. It is both revered and feared - floods for example, water bursting forth as a manifestation of the unapproachable divine. On occasion, waterfalls have even been deified.
These works express 40 years of my personal experiences and feelings toward grand waterfalls, particularly the Nachi falls (in Wakayama province, one of the best-known falls in Japan).
Master of silk, cotton and hemp dyeing, Shumei’s power as an artist is strongest in his contemporary interpretations of the traditional Japanese noren, hanging curtain.
Often abstracted visions of various ideas of ‘{inter}connected-ness’, or astute expressions of the animating spirit of his subjects, Shumei's bold designs sit as dynamic contrasts to the sensual texture of their background fabric – newly woven linen, fine silk or thick chunky strands of hemp.
On silk, cotton and hemp, Shumei's powerful technique midwives a colour palette of astounding impact. Using the noren as the canvas for his individual designs, Kobayashi has transformed the form into contemporary textile art.
1950
Born in Osaka, Japan
1970
Mentors: Katano Motohiko (LNT), Kuroda Tatsuaki (LNT), Kimura Uzan (LNT) Kajiyama Shin
1971
Receives award at Ist Hokuriku Dyeing Design Competition
1973
Selected at All Japan Textile Design Competition
1974
Graduates from Craft Department, Kanazawa University of Arts & Crafts Joins Toyobo Textile Company as staff of Design Section Receives Encouragement Award at All Japan Textile Competition
1978
Receives three awards at All Japan Textile Competition, wins the greatest number of awards Cotton Section Grandprix Interior Section Grandprix Apparel Section Award
1979
Tsutsugaki Noren Exhibition at Blackfriars Gallery, Sydney Receives award at All Japan Textile Competition Lecturer at Nakanoshima Arts College, Osaka
1982 - 1986
Several exhibitions in Australia
1986
Receives Award at Asian Textile Design Competition
1987
Opens independent studio Design Studio Shumei
1989
Creates five large Noren tapestries for Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, Hawaii, using Tsutsugaki Yuzen techniques, commissioned by Tokyu Railways
1991
Selected as one of 100 Dyers, Japan, presented by Kyoto Prefecture in cooperation with the Japan Kimono Association and the Kyoto Textile Chamber of Commerce Exhibition at Kyoto Cultural Heian Museum, Kyoto
1992
Recording of NHK Television Broadcast The Revival of Umezome, the Roots of Kaga Yuzen
1996
Exhibition Tsutsugaki Yuzen Dyeing by Shumei Kobayashi at the Japan Foundation, Sydney Canberra College of Arts Lecture and Workshop at the Canberra College of Arts
1999
Exhibition Tsutsugaki Yuzen Dyeing by Shumei Kobayashi at Craft Victoria Lecture at the University of Melbourne Creates large Noren tapestries and framed works for Tetsuya’s and Azuma restaurants
2000
Lecture and demonstration at Fukagawa Edo Museum, Tokyo Commission Noren tapestry for Tetsuya’s restaurant Sydney
2001
Lecture History of Natural Dyestuff at the Kanazawa Institute for the Renovation of Cultural Properties Involved in the revival of Umezome
2002
Exhibition Tsutsugaki Art Exhibition by Shumei Kobayashi at Tetsuya’s restaurant Sydney
2003
Tsutsugaki Art Exhibition by Shumei Kobayashi at the Japan Foundation, Sydney, including a lecture and demonstration
2004
Recording of NHK Television Broadcast Oto no aru Fukei
2005
Lecture and demonstration Japanese Classical Hand Dyeing Method as a visiting artist at the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales Third Tsutsugaki Art Exhibition by Shumei Kobayashi at the Japan Foundation, Sydney
2007
Exhibition Furoshiki - Reviving a Dyeing Art at the Japan Foundation, Sydney Tsutsugaki Exhibition Shumei Kobayashi at Silk Love Gallery, Tokyo
2008
Commission Tetsuya Restaurant Sydney screen size work
2010
Commission Tetsuya Waku Ghin restaurant Singapore Marina Bay Sands Solo show Yamaki Gallery Osaka
2011
Japan Foundation Sydney Lecture and Workshop Australian Academy of Design Melbourne Master class Commission Azuma Restaurant Sydney-largest work to date Solo Exhibition Weaving The Future Lesley Kehoe Galleries, Melbourne
2013
Distinguished Talent Visa in Australia
2014
Solo Exhibition Eyes Half Closed Lesley Kehoe Galleries, Melbourne
2016
Threads of Significance Solo Exhibition Lesley Kehoe Galleries, Melbourne Commission 12 x Noren for Japanese Restaurant AZUMA Restaurant, Sydney
2017
Curly Flat vineyards and winery, Lancefield, Victoria, creating pigments from vines
2019
Commission Kanazawa Hyatt Centric, Kanazawa, Japan Annual exhibitions at major Japanese department stores in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Sapporo.
Since 1974 : 27 Solo exhibitions, 35 Group exhibitions
PHOTOGRAPHY
Parallax Photography
Shannon McGrath
William Hung
Nekosuki via Wikimedia Commons
Master of silk, cotton and hemp dyeing, Shumei’s power as an artist is strongest in his contemporary interpretations of the traditional Japanese noren, hanging curtain.
Often abstracted visions of various ideas of ‘{inter}connected-ness’, or astute expressions of the animating spirit of his subjects, Shumei's bold designs sit as dynamic contrasts to the sensual texture of their background fabric – newly woven linen, fine silk or thick chunky strands of hemp.
Using the noren, an often used practical and design element in modern homes and businesses, as the canvas for his individual designs, Kobayashi has transformed the form into contemporary textile art.
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In a world created by art legend Yanagi Sōetsu, and mentored by a number of Living National Treasures across a range of practices, master tsutsugaki artist Kobayashi Shumei has cultivated a singular talent for traditional Japanese dyeing practices and a critical intellectual approach to the identity of the artist.
Eschewing the traditional Japanese studio practice of assigning specific techniques or processes to apprenticed specialists, Shumei is one of the very few remaining artists of the venerable 'tsutsugaki' technique and the only practitioner of the resist-based painting and dyeing art who is master of the entire process from concept to final artwork.
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The elemental powers of water, fire, air and time are the only assistants in the work of master tsutsugaki artist and Shugendō Buddhist shaman Kobayashi Shumei.
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