Takako Azami was awarded Nikkei Nihonga Grand Prize.

2018/04/24

Grand Prize at 7th Kaii Higashiyama Commemorative Nikkei Nihonga Grand Prize Exhibition

The Kaii Higashiyama Commemorative Nikkei Nihonga Grand Prize Exhibition was established in 2002 by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun to recognize a new generation of up-and-coming nihonga painters. At this 7th Exhibition, Takako Azami's work "Cherry Tree Yogo-Zu" received the grand prize.

Azami stated that she was not dreamed at all receiving this grand prize. She believes in further possibility of ink as well as mineral pigments, exploring new way of representation. On her own painting, she says, “When you stand by trees, you feel directly the existence of the trees through soughing of the foliage. I would be happy if the viewer feels the glittering light, wind or energy just I feel the breath in nature.

Shuji Takashina, Chief jury and President of Ohara Museum of Art, has long appreciated the unique depicting from the backside. This time, according to Takashina, sophistication of the technique, composition well balanced between the main motif of foliage and blank space around it gained high points from jury.

Please click here to see Takako Azami's works and her profile.

This exhibition is currently on view from 18-28, May. at the Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo.

7th Kaii Higashiyama Commemorative Nikkei Nihonga Grand Prize Exhibition
Dates: May 18 (Fri) - May 28 (Mon)
Opening Hours: 10:00 - 17:00 (last entry at 16:30) * Open throughout the exhibition
Venue: Ueno Royal Museum
1-2 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo,110-0007
http://www.nikkei-events.jp/art/nihonga.html (Japanese)
Adults \500, College Students \300, High School Students or younger Free

image: Cherry Tree Yogo-Zu, 265 x 570 cm, Japanese hemp paper on pane, Japanese ink, pigment, glue