We are thrilled to present Yufu Shohaku’s first solo exhibition outside of Japan during Asia Week New York. Yufu is a second-generation bamboo artist from Beppu, who began making baskets in elementary school and achieved mastery by middle school. With his father, Yufu Chikuryu, he designed many of the flower baskets that made Beppu famous. Today, he is known for his bold, rough-plaited baskets that incorporate elements such as bamboo branches, roots, rope, and large chunks of half-split bamboo.
An independent artist, Yufu was recognized as an important traditional craft arts skill holder by the Japanese government and is the recipient of numerous prizes, including the Beppu Mayor’s Special Recognition Award and Chairman’s Prize at the Beppu Traditional Craft Arts Exhibition. His work is in the collection of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University, and Beppu City Traditional Bamboo Museum.
