Shinya Maezaki Author

Tanabe Chikuunsai IV, who was born in Sakai (prefecture of Osaka) in 1973, was taught the art of bamboo from childhood by his father Chikuunsai III. Having studied in the Fine Arts department at the City Crafts High School in Osaka, then in the Sculpture Department at Tokyo's University of the Arts, Tanabe carried out his apprenticeship for two years in the city of Beppu (prefecture of Oita). Once he had completed this training, he returned to his father in Sakai to perfect his expertise in the art of bamboo and adopted his first artist's name, Shouchiku. He was the third artist to take this name, which means 'small bamboo'. While continuing traditional bamboo weaving practices, he also developed the skills handed down in the Tanabe line, and created his own sculptures. In 2017, three years after the death of his father, he attained the name Chikuunsai IV, literally 'bamboo cloud', and thus perpetuated the dynasty of basket weavers of which he is the latest member. Shinya Maezaki, Associate Professor at Kyoto Women's University is doctor of art history and consultant for numerous Japanese and American museums. Tadayuki Minamoto, celebrated Japanese photographer is author of some one hundred books in Japan. His photographs, reproduced in this book, have the intention of capturing and transmitting this same energy, these very concepts.