Miyuki Kinoshita
Originally from Tokyo. Her love for crafts began at a young age, when an artisan she saw on TV left a deep and lasting impression. She has been fascinated ever since with the beauty and craft of creating objects, which naturally grew into an interest in art. To pursue this passion further, she attended a college in Toyama where she focused on both art and literature.
Choosing Just the Right Technique for the Result in Mind
Though Kinoshita studied a number of artistic techniques, the one that best fit her personal style was lacquerware. In particular, she was drawn to dry-lacquering, a method that can be handled from start to finish by a single person, allowing her to have greater control and ensure her final results are what she envisioned. She also makes use of other decorative techniques like raden mother-of-pearl inlay and maki-e powdered gold designs, and even colored lacquers, further enabling her own unique style of artistic expression.
Lacquerware Inspired by the Natural World
The inspiration for Kinoshita’s work comes from all around her: Kanazawa is near both mountains and the sea, with constantly changing scenery through the four seasons. This positive influence from the environment is one of the reasons she has adopted Kanazawa as a home base for her creative activities.
Resonating with the Feel of Her Surroundings through Her Work
Kinoshita hopes that when people encounter her work, that they might also experience — at least a little —the feel of the scenery that inspired her to create each item. Each piece has a captivating elegance and showiness, created through her incredibly delicate work. Her work builds on the traditions of Japanese lacquerware, embodying the Japanese sense of beauty, and the beauty of Japan itself, through these traditional art techniques.
