Teruko MITARAI
Teruko MITARAI (Japan)
Representative of t.gallery
and T-POT Inc.
This year, I had the privilege of participating for the first time in the Final Assessment, in addition to the Preliminary Assessment. It is my strong impression that the standard of entries continues to rise with each exhibition. This edition was no exception, with a multitude of high-quality works making for a competition of an exceptionally high level overall.
The Gold Prize-winning work, Meguriyuku (Circulating Glow), is by no means flamboyant, yet it possesses a commanding presence that radiates far beyond its physical dimensions. Its upward-reaching lines evoke a sense of continuity that feels as though it might extend to the very reaches of the universe. What appear from a distance to be mere lines are, upon closer inspection, revealed as exquisitely sculpted three-dimensional surfaces—a trajectory that could only be achieved through the marriage of wood and Urushi. Through a sublime combination of woodworking and coating, the artist has transcended the inherent weight, rigidity, and coarseness of wood, while carefully preserving its organic warmth and supple texture. This balance is surely a result of the masterful shaping of the surfaces and the beauty of the final finish. It is a work that perfectly embodies contemporary craft: a profound creative vision matched by the relentless pursuit of the technical mastery required to realize it.
For the Teruko MITARAI Prize, I selected Through the Layers – Wide by Elm NIIMI. Put simply, it is a work of immense aesthetic flair. This “sense” is something deeply ingrained within the artist; a rare and precious quality that cannot be taught or learned, perhaps shaped by their philosophy, their nature, or the landscapes and objects they have observed since childhood. Through the bold yet delicate use of kanshitsu (dry lacquer) and the technique of togi-yaburi (over-polishing to reveal underlying layers), which are then traced over with maki-e, one can sense the artist’s profound love for Urushi and their total command of it. The harmony between the dynamic presence of the whole and the exquisite detailing is a triumph of that very intuition. It is a piece that truly excites the viewer and leaves me eager to see more of the artist’s work.