MONDEN Kogyoku
(b. 1916)
Kogyoku, which means "bamboo grove treasure," is Monden's artistic name,
given to him when he was 21, a few short years after he began making bamboo
baskets. His long and prestigious career has been marked with numerous
honors and has been uninterrupted except for two decades after the war when
economic turmoil required he make thousands of utilitarian baskets for sale
to wholesalers. This period ended when a local department store manager,
learning of his reputation, invited him to present an exhibition of flower
baskets.
Monden, who lives near Hiroshima, became a full member of the Japan
Craft Arts Exhibition in 1991, is an active leader in his
prefecture, a judge for many regional exhibitions, and a teacher at the
community college in Fukuyama City. His work is included in collections at
the Denver Art Museum, San Francisco Asian Art Museum, and Mint Museum in
Charlotte, North Carolina.
The artist tells his students, "Don't imitate others, create your own
personal style. And don't be afraid of making mistakes. Even if it's bad,
you will gain something in your efforts."
View online catalog Monden 2010 show
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