Citizen Watch has launched the "Generation Z Kogei Artist Support Project," which supports young artists who are passing on Japan's traditional crafts to the next generation. The project aims to support young artists who are the bearers of traditional crafts and to create an environment in which new expressions and works can be born. The project was launched with Yoshiko Ikoma, general producer of the traditional crafts x fashion brand "HIRUME," as a special supporter.
Gen Z Kogei Artist Support Project
She creates dyed works based on the technique of hand-painted Yuzen. Through dyeing, she aims to confront her own fundamental desires and feelings and express them in her works. Born in Fukushima Prefecture in 2001. She graduated from the Department of Crafts at Kanazawa College of Art in 2024 and is currently enrolled in the Master's program in Crafts at the Graduate School of Arts and Crafts at the same university. A-TOM ART AWARD EXHIBITION 2023, NAMERIKAWA ARTIST IN RESIDENCE EXHIBITION, KUMA experiment vol. - "Polyphony", KOGEI Art Fair Kanazawa, Art Experimental Space Kanazawa College of Art Student Exhibition "Five Expressions", A-TOM ART AWARD TOYAMA Award, Van Cleef & Arpels Design Scholarship, PRIZE for LEADING CHARACTER / DSF CULTIVATION AWARD for Students, SHIBUYA ART AWARDS Jury Member Komatsu Takahiro Award, 8th recipient of the Kuma Foundation Creator Scholarship.
This is the first time the program has been held, and it will support dyeing artist Ishii Yuuma and ceramic artist Kaneda Moehisa. In addition to providing 500,000 yen in support for their work over the course of one year, the program will also provide opportunities to exhibit their work and provide PR support to promote their creative activities on social media. The four craft artists selected in advance from several young artists who are working hard to create works using traditional craft techniques were exhibited in-house, and the winners were decided by a vote of the company's employees.
He applies the traditional pottery technique of "nerikomi" to create works with a blue theme. Born in Tokyo in 1997. Graduated from the Department of Craft and Industrial Design, Faculty of Art and Design, Musashino Art University in 2020. Studio artist at Shiga Ceramic Cultural Park. Selected for the Newcomer Encouragement Award at the 2021 Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition (2022, 2023, 2024). Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (2022, 2023, 2024). First solo exhibition in 2022 (Kyoto Takashimaya Art and Craft Salon). Seasonal Crafts - A Feast of Techniques (Midorigaoka Museum of Art, Nara) in 2023. Selected for the 10th Kikuchi Biennale. Takumi's Ceramic Travel (Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum, Ibaraki) in 2024. Selected for the Bizen Contemporary Ceramic Art Biennale. He is currently a full member of the Japan Crafts Council and makes pottery in Shiga Prefecture.
Examination criteria
1. Is the work moving?
2. Inheriting traditional Japanese crafts and techniques while also incorporating innovative and original expression.
3. There are challenges that we face while improving the perfection and sophistication of our manufacturing techniques and methods.
4. Manufacturing that is future-oriented and considers the global environment and society.
5. Does it resonate with the manufacturing stance and aesthetic sense that Citizen holds dear, such as "Better Starts Now"*?
*Better Starts Now
Citizen's belief is that "No matter what the time, as long as we act with the present as the starting point, we can constantly make things better."
