The Jomon people were able to experience nature's
They sensed the "vortex" of all things in the forest.
The "vortex" of the wind blowing down from the mountains to the villages.
The vortex is born where different ocean currents meet.
The "whirlpool of flame" that erupts into the sky when a mountain of fire bursts into flames.
People may have seen life in the energy of the vortex. (Sai)

Mitsumi Irahara

1972 Born in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan 2001 B.F.A., in Urushi art, Tokyo University of the Arts

Solo and Group Exhibitions

2001 Solo Exhibition, at Gallery Garulibus, Ginza, Tokyo

2003 Wangsang International Art Festival, Outdoor Exhibition, Korea

2007 A Joint Exhibition of Urushi Art between Japan & Korea, at the Museum of Tokyo University of Arts

2010-2018 Aizu Urushi Art Festival, at Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima

2012 A Festival for a Beautiful Party with Urushi– Contemporary Expressions of Urushi Art by Female Artists Worldwide, held in Tokyo, Fukushima, and Kyoto

2016 An Exchange Program for Urushi Art in Asian Countries, at the Vietnam National Art Museum

2018 A Joint Urushi Art Exhibition for Artists from the Republic of China, Japan and Korea, at the Channel Private Museum, in XYZ, China

2019-2021 Zakai Exhibition (O Museum, Tokyo)

2019-2021 Taiwan x Japan Lacquer Exchange Exhibition The URUSHI EXHIBITION, at FEI ARTMUSEUM, Yokohama

2022 Special Exhibition "Musubi 2022-Prayer Shape", at Shugu Shrine Buddhist Equipment Store, at Yamanashi
KAJIMA Sculpture Competition Winning Works Exhibition, at Kajima KI Building Atrium, Tokyo
Suruga no Kuni Art Festival Fujiyama Biennale, at Fuji River Folk Museum, Shizuoka
International Lacquer Exhibition Ishikawa 2022, at Wajima Museum of Lacquer Art, Ishikawa
Solo exhibition "UZU 2022, at Ginza Gallery Sol, Tokyo

2021-2022 Fukuban Feast Exhibition, at art space Morgenrot, Tokyo

Many others

Publications

2009-2011 A series of essays “Kintsugi Asobi” published on “To-yu”, published by Shinkikaku Publications

2015 “An Introduction to Kintsugi”, published by Seibundo-Shinkouhsa

Selected Awards

2001 Salon de Plantan Award

2001 Encouragement Award by the International Urushi Design Exhibition

2005 Silver Medal Award by the International Urushi Exhibition

2018 Successful Competitor at the International Urushi Exhibition

2019 Successful Competitor, Kashima Contest of Sculptures