Yamamoto Chikuryusai II, Flower Container, 1938, Bakelite, rattan, 14 x 5.5 x 5.5 in.

From Timber to Tiger: The Many Bamboos of Japanese Bamboo Art
March 13 – 21, 2025
Opening Reception: Thursday, March 13, 5-8pm
Exhibiting at: Colnaghi, 23 East 67th Street, 4th Floor
Asia Week Hours: 11am-6pm, daily (otherwise by appointment)

TAI Modern is excited to return to this year’s Asia Week New York to exhibit From Timber to Tiger: The Many Bamboos of Japanese Bamboo Art. This exhibition, held at Colnaghi New York, showcases important historic and contemporary works with a particular emphasis on unusual materials, ranging from rare bamboo species to lotus root to Bakelite.

Highlighted in this show are pieces from master Yamamoto Chikuryusai II, a member of one of the most important bamboo lineages in Osaka. Flower Container (1938) blends the traditional shapes of sencha tea ceremony ikebana baskets and rattan knotting technique with what was new plastics technology at the time: Bakelite, a thermosetting resin that could be molded into any shape.

They are also proud to highlight pieces from modern master Tanabe Chikuunsai IV. Enso (2020) uses tiger bamboo, a particularly hardy bamboo spotted with green and brown marks that grows only on a single mountain in Kochi. Conversely, Stand (2024) employs a new technique pioneered by Tanabe, wherein he collects bamboo felled from previous seasons. While pliable, it is also incredibly fragile, and it’s that unpredictability that grounds the tangle of hobi and black bamboo.

As the world’s premier gallery for Japanese bamboo art, TAI Modern welcome this opportunity to provide education and guidance to established collectors and first-time viewers alike.

They look forward to celebrating Asia Week New York with you soon!

To learn more, click here.