Yufu Shohaku (born 1941), Meoto Iwa (The Wedded Rocks), 2020, madake bamboo, rattan, branches, shuro rope, 24 x 61 x 59 in.

Yufu Shohaku, TAI Modern
Concludes May 31, 2022

TAI Modern presents Japanese bamboo artist Yufu Shohaku’s first solo exhibition outside of Japan. This exhibition was initially shown in New York, and has recently travelled to Santa Fe, giving New Mexico art fans the opportunity to view these powerful baskets and sculptures in person.

Yufu Shohaku (born 1941) is not only a master bamboo artist, but also a cultured man with a meticulous mind, a leader in his community, a certified master flower arranger, and head of a local Shigin (chanted poetry) group. He is known for his robust and energetic rough-plaited baskets. Though Yufu’s works have sculptural presence, his belief is that beauty and functionality are at the core of his art. After completing a basket, he arranges flowers in it to determine whether he was successful in its execution. “When I make flower baskets, I always consider the size and balance of the baskets, as well as the type of flowers to be arranged in them,” Yufu explains. “For me, baskets and flowers are inseparable, and I get my inspiration from natural forms such as the earth and cliffs. I try to give my works an organic look, as if they are a part of nature.”

Read more, including the online catalogue, click here