Yuma Takahashi

Yuma Takahashi (b.1988) graduated from the Tohoku University of Art and Design in 2015. He envisions to pass down the lacquer culture with as rich as 9000 years of history to the new generation and create humble companions to people’s life by incorporating lacquer art into everyday life objects.

Takahashi explores the theme of "balance" or "boundary" between himself and nature, with a particular focus on lacquer as his chosen medium. Takahashi's artwork portrays the unique phenomena that emerge through layering lacquer and captures universal landscapes. One of Takahashi's primary techniques is the "kawarinuri" (changing lacquer) technique, which originated during the Edo period as a means of expressing social status through the decoration of samurai sword scabbards. By incorporating a wide range of coloured lacquers developed since the Meiji era, Takahashi pushes the boundaries of traditional lacquer art and explores new contemporary possibilities within the medium.

Takahashi received "73rd Kanazawa City Crafts Exhibition" Ishikawa Prefecture Traditional Industry Promotion Council Chairman's Award in 2017. In recent years, he has actively sought connections between street culture and craft culture, collaborating with fellow ceramic artists, apparel and hotel brands to create
collaborative works.

Source: Touch Ceramics