Latest news with #Exhibition
4 hours ago
- Business
Fujinuma Noboru: Transforming Everyday Bamboo Craftwork into Globally Appreciated Art
More than 90% of Fujinuma Noboru's bamboo creations are snapped up by collectors from around the world. Along with his exhibitions, so many collectors visit his studio in person that it limits the ability to see his work in Japan. What is it about Fujinuma's work that attracts such high regard from overseas? The starting point was in 1997 when Lloyd Cotsen, an art collector and former president of the major cosmetics company Neutrogena, visited a solo exhibition Fujinuma was holding at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Department Store in Tokyo and purchased one of his works. When Cotsen later introduced Fujinuma's work at an exhibition of his art collection in New York, it prompted other overseas collectors to start trying to acquire his pieces too. That first piece Cotsen had purchased was a bamboo flower basket titled Spring Tide . To create it, Fujinuma used nemagaridake , or nemagari bamboo, so-called because it is significantly 'bent at the roots' due to heavy snow over the winter months, weaving it together with significant strength using the free-style ara-ami rough plaiting technique to convey a vivid expression of the bamboo's energy. Spring Tide , a nemagari bamboo flower basket (2024). (© Yokozeki Kazuhiro) ' Nemagaridake is such a tough material that I didn't know how to work with it at first,' recalls Fujimuna. 'It was too strong to weave, even with the help of others, and it took three years of attempts to succeed.' Fujinuma has a particularly deep connection with his work Spring Tide and continues to this day to develop it as a series. 'When I was 41, I won an award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei, or Art Crafts, Exhibition, but after that I fell into a rut. It was then I became aware of the importance of ki , because losing that inner energy caused my slump. Ever since then I have used ki as a theme in my work. Spring Tide was one of the first works I made during that time.' From the Kitchen to the Tokonoma The city of Ōtawara in Tochigi Prefecture, where Fujinuma is based, is a well-known bamboo production area with a long history of the local bamboo being used to make various household items. This made the fast-growing grass something that was always near at hand and deeply familiar to him. Fujinuma explains: 'I was good at making crafts, and as a child I made bamboo stilts and fishing rods. My father was a carpenter so I could use his tools, like saws and the traditional nata hatchet, whenever I wanted. I never thought about becoming a bamboo artisan, though.' Fujinuma in interview. (© Yokozeki Kazuhiro) As Japan was in a period of rapid economic growth and industrialization, he chose to go to a technical high school. After that, he took on a position at a machine manufacturer. When he was 27, though, he took a trip to France that triggered a major turn in his life. 'There were so many Japanese people at the Louvre and along the Champs-Élysées, and I wondered why they had come all the way to Paris. I thought about it really seriously and the answer I came to was 'the power of culture.'' Despite having felt no kind of connection before, this was when he first became clearly aware of 'culture' as a concept. He immediately became caught up in exploring his own country's culture. This didn't mean though that he knew straight away what he wanted to do. He explored a number of fields like lacquerware, pottery, calligraphy, and tea ceremony, and it was during this time, while taking a culture class to study bamboo craftwork, that he came across a posthumously published collection of works by Shōno Shōunsai, designated as the first Living National Treasure for bamboo art in 1967. It was this photo book that helped him decide his path. Fujinuma's copy of the posthumously published collection of Shōno Shōunsai's works. (© Yokozeki Kazuhiro) 'I was shocked to see how much could be achieved with bamboo. It was something usually found in the kitchen, but here it had been transformed into display pieces for the tokonoma ornamental alcove. The moment I realized the possibilities, I decided I would quit working at my company. I thought if I could become as skilled as Shōno-sensei, I could do this too.' He waited until his thirtieth birthday in 1975 and then started becoming involved with bamboo crafts. Learning for Yourself Fujinuma studied basic techniques under Yagisawa Keizō, who was dedicated to training successors in the art. However, after just 18 months, Yagisawa told Fujinuma 'I have nothing more to teach you,' and so he became independent. Following that, accompanied by his copy of Shōno's photo collection, he built up his own skills. 'Thinking back,' says Fujinuma, 'I'm glad I didn't have to study long. After all, the only way to make the most of bamboo as a material is to work with it yourself and learn its 'character.' Plus, if you are taught, all you can do is imitate. When you produce something using only the traditional techniques you have learned, the designs and other elements will just end up resembling past works, and nothing new or original can be created.' Fujinuma at work. (© Yokozeki Kazuhiro) In 1992, Fujinuma created a truly unique technique. While making a piece using the traditional tabane-ami bundled plaiting technique, he accidentally twisted the bundles of bamboo strips. This twisting had a surprising effect. 'The traditional technique produces a basket rim that is straight', he explained. 'But by adding this technique of twisting, the rim can be formed into a wave.' One of his recent works that uses this unique technique is Gogyō , a tabane-ami flower basket. He created it by weaving finely split dyed bamboo strips into a two-layer structure. He used the traditional openwork technique ajiro-ami (herringbone weave) for the inner layer to convey the delicateness of the bamboo and his unique weaving technique of twisting the bundles for the outer layer to express the bamboo's strength. The unique shape, not seen in traditional flower baskets, further accentuates the organic beauty of the bamboo. Gogyō bamboo flower basket (2021). (© Yokozeki Kazuhiro) A close-up of the bamboo work on Gogyō (2021). (© Yokozeki Kazuhiro) Works Intended to Inspire the Next Generation Fujinuma's works, created with his own unique techniques and sense of aesthetics, have a distinctive charm. Ever since he began displaying them in the showcase of a friend's watch shop, there has been no shortage of buyers. His reputation continued to grow steadily and led to him holding an exhibition in Tokyo. From around 2000, he began exhibiting his works at overseas art shows, and in 2011 he held a solo exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the largest and most historic art museums in the United States. Then in 2012, at the age of 67, Fujinuma was designated a Living National Treasure. At the time of this recognition, he was praised for 'using traditional techniques while adding his own ingenuity through making use of the neat spaces and the intricate sensuji patterns created by the minutely fine ajiro-ami technique and the delicate tabane-ami technique, along with his free style ara-ami technique. His works, inspired by the concept of ki (energy), are highly regarded for their elegant and creative beauty, with generous forms that encompass an expansive space and incorporate powerful design compositions.' Says Fujinuma: 'I think I am where I am today because I came across Shōno-sensei's photo collection. That's why I want to leave works that will inspire the next generation to 'want to try making things.' To achieve that, I think it's important to focus purely on incorporating my own thoughts into my work, rather than worrying about how people will regard it.' Fujinuma himself admits that once he starts work on a piece, he becomes so preoccupied with it that he doesn't even spare time for sleep. During this creative process, he says that designs and ideas for pieces flow one after another. Fujinuma's designs pinned on the wall. (© Yokozeki Kazuhiro) In 2028, he is planning to hold a solo exhibition at TAI Modern, an art gallery dedicated to Japanese bamboo crafts and contemporary American art in Sante Fe, New Mexico. The theme will be 'strength.' Today, as every day, Fujinuma continues to work toward creating pieces in pursuit of that expression. A closer look at Fujinuma at work. (© Yokozeki Kazuhiro) (Originally published in Japanese. Interview and text by Sugihara Yuka and Power News. Banner photo: Fujinuma with one of his completed pieces. © Yokozeki Kazuhiro.)
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
1.5 lakh fingerlings ready for fish ‘prasadam' in Hyderabad to be held on June 8
As people from other States are expected to reach Hyderabad from Friday (June 6, 2025) to take fish 'prasadam', Hyderabad in-charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar directed officials to make arrangements at Exhibition grounds in Nampally. The prasadam would be distributed at the grounds on Sunday (June 8, 2025). Mr. Prabhakar along with officials inspected the preparations on Wednesday. He enquired with police about queue line management and security arrangements. Necessary arrangements have to be made for voluntary organisations which planned to provide food to the people on the day.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Fintech Forward Set to Return to Bahrain and Gather the Most Influential Leaders in Finance at its Third Edition in October 2025
Fintech Forward 2025 will be programmed by Economist Impact and hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board MANAMA, BAHRAIN / ACCESS Newswire / June 3, 2025 / The Kingdom of Bahrain is gearing up for its third edition of Fintech Forward, which will be hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) and programmed by Economist Impact. Bringing together the best and brightest minds in payments, fintech, and the broader financial ecosystem, Fintech Forward has cemented itself as a leading regional event, where industry trailblazers, investors, and financial players come to exchange knowledge, celebrate milestone successes, and level up connections. The upcoming edition of the region's flagship financial services event, Fintech Forward 2025 (FF25), will take place on October 8-9 at Exhibition World Bahrain, hosted in collaboration with the Central Bank of Bahrain and supported by Bahrain FinTech Bay. Featuring keynotes, panel discussions and interactive sessions, the two-day event will spotlight opportunities and challenges for fintechs and highlight notable successes to learn from. Held under the banner "The era of integration: the maturing age of fintech", FF25 will bring together fintech experts, financial firms, governments and regulators from around the world to discuss trending themes, share insights, and exchange knowledge to further advance the industry. The event will cover a wide range of topics related to the industry, including the shift from rapid growth to sustainable maturity, the emergence of embedded infrastructure and advanced technologies, the focus on trust, regulation, and integration over disruption, as well as the lasting and increased collaboration between regulators, sovereign investors, and traditional banks. Bahrain, the host country for this global event, has a robust financial services sector that combines traditional banking with innovative fintech firms, including crypto assets, digital payments and open banking solutions. The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), which serves as the country's single regulator, has played a vital role in fostering fintech innovation through its dedicated Fintech Innovation Unit and pioneering regulatory frameworks. The CBB's onshore Regulatory Sandbox, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, provides a secure environment for local and international fintech companies to test and develop new technologies, supporting the growth of a resilient and compliant fintech ecosystem. Building on the success of previous editions, which drew participants from across the globe, Fintech Forward has established itself as a key platform for industry leaders to share insights, foster collaboration, and drive regional fintech advancement. For more information and to register interest in Fintech Forward 2025, please visit the website. Media can register here for a partnership. # ENDS # For more information, please contact: Abdulelah AbdullaCommunications DepartmentEconomic Development BoardPhone: +973-39798919E-mail: internationalmedia@ About Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) is an investment promotion agency with overall responsibility for attracting investment into the Kingdom and supporting initiatives that enhance the investment climate. Bahrain EDB works with the government and both current and prospective investors to ensure that Bahrain's investment climate is attractive, to communicate the key strengths, and to identify where opportunities exist for further economic growth through investment. Bahrain EDB focuses on several economic sectors that capitalise on Bahrain's competitive advantages and provide significant investment opportunities. These sectors include financial services, manufacturing, logistics, ICT and more information on the Bahrain EDB, visit SOURCE: Bahrain Economic Development Board
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
A&P show radiates energy
Hon William Nosworthy opens the Otago A and P Society's 1925 Winter Show in Dunedin. — Otago Witness, 9.6.1925 Once again Winter Show Week has been auspiciously ushered in, and the community cannot but respond to the stimulus of its quickening influences. It may be said with accuracy that Winter Show Week is like no other of the fifty-two that comprise the year. It has an atmosphere of its own and is the more welcome because it introduces an agreeable break in the monotony of the season of short days and low temperatures and brings brightness and bustle in its train at a time when most people are in the mood to appreciate a variation of the normal routine. Only the dullard can fail to be alive to the acceleration of the city's activities which Winter Show Week introduces. The Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society's Show becomes at this time a radiating centre of energy and animation. Our visitors will of course have opportunity of judging for themselves of the promise of the forthcoming Exhibition from the magnitude of the buildings that are now erected and should find sufficient evidence during the present week of the existence of a progressive and confident spirit in the principal city of Otago. There is much to see and much to do in Dunedin within the pleasant limits of Winter Show Week, and in all manner of re-unions, gatherings and conferences, agreeable scope for the sociability which is the indispensable lubricant of the whole machinery of the Fair. — editorial Licensed premises The annual meeting of the Dunedin Licensing Committee was held in the courthouse yesterday afternoon. New licenses to old houses were granted as follows: Crown Hotel (William Ernest Metcalf), Carlton Hotel (John Richardson), Provincial (Cecil Henry Street), Bowling Green (Frederick William Rudkin), Rugby (William James Bevis), Criterion (Angus Murray McIvor), Oban (Fred Griffiths Paape), Gridiron (Alfred Walter Brown). A well-dressed woman "What had she on?" is my inevitable query on hearing my husband express the opinion that Mrs Smith or Brown was the best-dressed woman there ("there," by the way, meaning some function or other). The also inevitable answer is — " Well, er, you know what women wear; all the same, she knows what suits her, and how to dress herself." At times, I must own, I feel a wee bit jealous of the Mrs Smiths and Browns, who have the cleverness to arouse such expressions of admiration from other people's husbands. She knows what suits herself. It sounds so extraordinarily simple, doesn't it? Yet how many of us women can claim that distinction? To know how to dress ourselves becomingly and attractively is an art. But the majority of us appear to consider that what proves becoming to another person must in some inexplicable way assuredly be as becoming to ourselves. It is possible not to be out of the fashion, and yet to have a distinct style of one's own. A woman's clothes should undoubtedly express her personality. Voluble 'wobbly' in NZ Lyons, the young and voluble IWW sailor whose deportation is sought for, intends to defy the authorities. He states that he does not wish to leave New Zealand. He likes the people and he wishes to work here. Whether or not the people of New Zealand like Mr Lyons remains to be seen. They showed no very warm enthusiasm for him or his cause at the Sunday evening meeting which he addressed here. "They want to deport me," he told his audience, "But if you people get together, I say they will not dare to deport me." Lyons openly and exultantly declared that he was a member of the IWW. — ODT, 2.6.1925 (Compiled by Peter Dowden)
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Queen City Ex entertainment announcements ‘coming soon': REAL
The midway at the Queen City Exhibition 2022 is seen in this undated image. (Allison Bamford / CTV News)
