Tanaka Kyokusho

The opening will take place on June 30 from 5 – 7pm, where you will be able to first experience Tanaka’s characteristically elegant body of work. We will have an opening reception for the artist on Friday, July 28 from 5 – 7pm, followed on Saturday, July 29, with both a demonstration of bamboo technique and lecture on process by Tanaka from 2 – 3:30pm.

TAI Modern is delighted to announce Japanese bamboo artist Tanaka Kyokusho’s upcoming solo exhibition.

Tanaka holds himself to a high standard of process and vision and takes the time before each piece to compose and experiment with shape, colors, and the widths and spacings of the bamboo strips. This leads to a series of drafts, executed through technical sketches and physical samples to evaluate the aesthetic outcomes of these variables.

Tanaka is one of the most well-respected creators of bamboo art alive today and has received a multitude of awards. In 2008, he was awarded the Purple Ribbon for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts by the Japanese Congress, presented by the Emperor of Japan. Another of the most prestigious accolades came in May of 2023. Tanaka’s basket Mist, showcased in this exhibition at TAI Modern, was also shown in the 63rd Eastern Japan Traditional Craft Arts Exhibition. There, Tanaka was awarded the prestigious Japan Kogei Association Prize—a peer-awarded “Best of Show” across all genres.

This show marks Tanaka’s third solo exhibition with the gallery.