TANABE Takeo/Shochiku III
(b. 1973)
Tanabe was born to one of Japan's most prestigious bamboo pedigrees. Like his father, Tanabe Chikuunsai III, he attended art school and earned a
degree in sculpture. He is the chosen son, slated to become Tanabe
Chikuunsai IV, representing the fourth generation of bamboo artists in his
family.
From a young age he gravitated towards bamboo, making his first piece when
he was only 7 or 8. He continues to work alongside his esteemed father in
the elder's Osaka studio, taking brief breaks in Beppu to improve his
proficiency.
His signature is organic sculptural forms made with tiger bamboo and other
natural materials. Although only 31, he has received many accolades,
including the Mayor's Award at the Sakai City Art Exhibition in 2001 and
the Osaka Craft Exhibition Choice Award at the All Kansai Art Exhibition in
2004. He is also active outside Japan, exhibiting and demonstrating in
Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Korea. His work is housed at the
Seattle Art Museum and Philadelphia Museum of Art. Recently Lloyd Cotsen,
the former CEO of the Neutrogena Corporation and a visionary collector of
Japanese bamboo, donated one of Tanabe's baskets to the Long Beach Museum of Art.
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