Contemporary Japanese Bamboo Sculpture Kawano Shoko

A beautiful bamboo sculpture in a double-walled basket form by contemporary Japanese bamboo artist Kawano Shoko (born 1957-). The piece entitled "Birth" was made in 2002 and purchased from Tai Modern in 2010 (with a copy of original invoice). The voluminous basket features the signature style of the artist with a swelled body, and it was finely woven in a tight twill plaiting technique that follows the contour. The rim of the basket was constructed with bundled plaiting with delicate rattan ties. Two bended bamboo stalks were made into an irregular T-shape handle. The beauty of this piece is manifested by the interesting form the basket takes. Although the body is globular with expanded and rounded shoulders, it gradually morphs to a rectangular base with a tensioned arch. As a result, the appearance is unexpected with a surprisingly lightness contrasting its generous volume. This form is a signature of the artist's work in recent years, and it demands a high mastery of the technique. What is highly unusual of this piece is that the artist created an inner basket in a contrasting dark color. This body within body thus gives the title "Birth". The seamless transition demonstrated the superb techniques commanded by the artist with this particular medium. The twill plaiting was done in a meticulous precision. The meticulous execution requires an utmost desire to perfection. The basket is signed "Shoko" on the base. It comes with a wood tomobako with inscription "Birth Ikebana Basket" outside and Artist's signature and seal under the lid.
Kawano Shoko was born in 1957 on Kyushu Island and he studied under Morigami Jin in Oita. He won the Cotsen Bamboo Price in 2002.