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YA K O H O D O
Many years ago, Yako Hodo chose bamboo, a plant historically
celebrated in Japan for its strength, resiliency and flexibility, as the
material to express his creative ideas. He was introduced to tradi-
tional bamboo basket making by Nakajima Hoso, who taught him
the fundamentals when he was a teenage apprentice. In the early
1960’s, Yako began exhibiting his artwork in public. After a move to
Tokyo, he became a student of Baba Shodo, a senior bamboo artist
with tremendous vision, who encouraged him to explore the possibil-
ities of bamboo as a medium for contemporary sculpture. His work
during this period was often made on a very large scale and featured
the distinctive sweeping beauty of split bamboo. While Yako showed
these pieces locally and nationally, his goal was acceptance by the
Nitten, the annual Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition, and this was first
achieved in 1973.
During this time, he married a wonderful woman and spent many
years crafting bamboo lampshades to support them. With patience
and discipline, he set aside time to make two or three sculptures each
year for submission to public exhibitions. A less determined person
would have abandoned his artwork altogether.
Journey to the North 1994,9 3/4 x 41/4 x 17 3/4 inches
3
On the advice of Baba, in the mid-1990s he changed priorities,
setting his sights on the Traditional Craft Arts Association. Since func-
tionality is the focus of this organization, Yako had to undergo a major
shift in his thinking and process, making smaller vessels that could be
used for flowers. He introduced an array of warm, dyed colors to his
work and retained his passion for the beautiful line of the split bam-
boo. Once he made this transition, a burst of creativity followed,
which led to full membership in the Traditional Craft Arts Association
and awards for his work. In 2000, he was recognized by the Min-
ister of Culture with a Medal of Honor.
Perhaps the most surprising part of his artistic career for Yako is the
enthusiastic reception of his work in America. His art is represented in
three American museums and numerous private collections. The life of
an artist who chooses bamboo as his artistic medium is not easy, but
if the individual has the strength, resilience, and flexibility combined
with ability and creative vision great things can be accomplished, as
Yako has proven.
Robert T. Coffland
City 1988, 13 x 61/4 x 28 3/4 inches
Page 6: Sound 1970, 391/4 x 211/2 x 101/4 inches
4
A R T I S T ’S S TAT EM EN T
It was fall of 1998 I received a surprising phone call. Someone from
America saw my artwork at the Japan Traditional Craft Arts Exhibition
and wanted to meet me. November of that year, Robert T. Coffland
came to my house, and to my astonishment he came alone. He did
not speak much Japanese and I did not know much English either. It was
around noon when he arrived so I asked him, with my gestures, if he
would like to have lunch. He said, “I like ‘katsudon’ (pork cutlet bowl)
for lunch in the winter, but I prefer ‘Soba’ (buckwheat noodle) during the
summer.” I ordered “katsudon” for delivery, and we ate lunch together.
6
A R T I S T ’S S TAT EM EN T
After lunch, we went to my studio and I showed him my artwork.
Before I began to exhibit with the Traditional Craft Arts Organization
in 1994, I created large scale bamboo sculptures and exhibited them
at “Nitten”, the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition. When Mr. Coffland saw my
“Nitten” pieces, he said,“Your artworks are so powerful and beautiful!”
At that point I felt we connected not through words but through my work.
Since this initial meeting, Mr. Coffland has visited my studio regularly,
and, thank God, with interpreters.
During my fifteen-year training period, I studied under four different
masters learning various skills and techniques. I started to show my
work at public exhibitions early in my career. In my third year, I started
entering one piece per year at the local prefectural art exhibition. Back
then this was quite unusual, as students were expected not to express
their own ideas until they learned all of the basics. Creating pieces of
my own early helped me build a foundation of my own artwork, and
I sincerely appreciate my masters’ kindness for allowing me to do so.
During my Nitten period, I competed in juried art exhibitions that
included both Japanese and Western style paintings and sculpture in
bronze and other mediums. To show beside these I created bamboo
sculptures with scale, volume, and presence. For the Traditional Craft
Arts exhibitions I now make vessels. Making art for me remains the
same: inspiration means finding themes, new ideas of what to create,
and the techniques for materializing these visions.
Having my first overseas solo show is a dream come true. I would
like to thank Mr. Coffland and the staff at TAI Gallery for making this
happen and I am looking forward to meeting everyone who comes
to the opening.
7
Springtime Buds 2000,17 x 81/2 x 2 inches
8
Sunset at Grand Canyon 2005,17 inch diameter x 2 inches
9
Red City 2002,81/2 x 31/2 x15 inches (above)
City Lights 2001,83/4 x 4 x 16 inches (left)
11
Uplifting 1990, 311/2 x 231/2 x 231/2 inches (above)
My UFO 1979, 271/2 inch diameter (left)
13
Shogun of the Sea 1992, 191/2 x 251/2 x 13 3/4 inches
14
Flower Basket 1963, 361/2 x 12 x161/2 inches
A Construction 1975,81/2 x 81/2 x 25 1/2 inches (above)
Late Autumn 2004, 8 x 51/4 x15 inches (right)
16
YA K O H O D O
1940 Born in Niigata Prefecture1956 Apprenticed to Nakajima Hoso1961 Admitted to Niigata Prefecture Art Exhibition for the first time1964 Studied under Nakamura Yukosai1965 Apprenticed to Baba Shodo1968 Winner of Tokyo Governor’s Award at Japan Art Exhibition1973 Admitted to Nitten, Japan Fine Arts Exhibition for the first time (thereafter 7 times)
1978 Admitted to Japan Modern Craft Arts Exhibition for the first time(thereafter 13 times, and became full member)
1979 Winner of Saitama Governor’s Award at Prefecture Arts Exhibition1985 Group Exhibition at Saitama Arts Exhibition1992 Judge at Saitama Prefecture Arts Exhibition1994 Admitted to Japan Traditional Craft Arts Exhibition for the first time1995 Solo Exhibition in Kumagaya
Winner of Exceptional Technique Award (Ministry of Labor Award)
1997 Admitted to Japan Traditional Craft Arts ExhibitionBecame full member of Traditional Craft Arts AssociationSolo Exhibition at Fukaya City LibraryExhibited in “Bamboo Masterworks”, Asia Society, New York
2000 Winner of Medal from Emperor of JapanAppeared on CNN “Style”Exhibited in “Bamboo Masterworks”, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
2001 Exhibited in “Bamboo Masterworks”, Honolulu Academy of ArtExhibited in “Best Bamboo Baskets: The Cotsen Collection”at Long House Reserve, East Hampton, New YorkExhibited in “Meet the Masters”, TAI Gallery, Santa Fe
2002 Exhibited in “Bamboo Masterworks”, Pacific Asia MuseumExhibited in “Bamboo Masterworks”, Field Museum
2004 Exhibited in the Hand Workshop Art Center, Richmond, Virginia2005 Exhibited in “Weavers of Wonder”, Naples Museum of Art, Naples, Florida2006 Exhibited in “Hin: Quiet Beauty of Japanese Bamboo Art”, Faulconer Gallery,
Grinnell, Iowa and Chicago Cultural Center, ChicagoExhibited in “Beyond Basketry: Japanese Bamboo Art”, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
MUSEUM COLLECT IONS:
Mint Museum of Craft and Design; Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Springtime Buds 2000,17 x 81/2 x 2 inches (right)
Covers: Uplifting 1974, 191/2 x101/2 x 311/2 inches (two views)
Photography by Gary Mankus
1601B Paseo de PeraltaSanta Fe, New Mexico 87501505.984.1387 • www.taigallery.com
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