ARTIST INFO

Jun Tsukawaki

Jun Tsukawaki

Jun Tsukawaki(1952-)is an sculptor who has been creating only abstract iron sculpture for more than 30 years. TSUKAWAKI concentrates on hammering the cylinder shaped steel, which can be forged into any shape when heated, and creates graceful curves.
“There are two ways of expression that exist like the pendulum; composing the spaces in between the curves which can be obtained by hammering the iron, on the contrary, simply tackling the steel without thinking such a composition. And I think, in recent a few years, this pendulum is swung much in the latter. The shapes of the material and the techniques in the latter are much simpler than the former, however what are forged out of it speak more. “Throw away as much as you can and express what is left.” (by Shindo Tsuji, Tsukawaki’s teacher) My long searching journey with the iron began only with these words. Now those bolts I used to use for joint have gone and only a plate of iron is left to roll up. And I have this feeling that this has got quite close to something important for my expression. I have no choice but to keep on, believing this feeling.”

Thus TSUKAWAKI himself says. In the process of tempering iron, the power of the artist works upon the iron and chips off what are unnecessary, materials and methods alike. The art works thus created, though they are all made from the same material, seem to talk to us with different words.

 

Artwork © by Jun Tsukawaki
All other content © Gallery Yamaki Fine Art
All rights reserved.

---------------------

Works

  • Title
    Beneath the Tree 2015
    Size
    36.3×44cm
    Year
    2015
    Medium
    conté, pastel
  • Title
    Portrait of Constructivist
    Size
    36.3×44cm
    Year
    2015
    Medium
    acrylic gesso on paper
  • Title
    Portrait of Constructivist
    Size
    23.5×16.5×6.3cm
    Year
    2015
    Medium
    iron
  • Title
    Beneath the Tree 2015
    Size
    36.3×44cm
    Year
    2015
    Medium
    conté, pastel
  • Title
    Portrait of Constructivist
    Size
    36.3×44cm
    Year
    2015
    Medium
    acrylic gesso on paper
  • Title
    Portrait of Constructivist
    Size
    23.5×16.5×6.3cm
    Year
    2015
    Medium
    iron

CV

1952
Born in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
1979
Completed Postgraduate Course in Sculpture, Kyoto City University of Arts
1982
Received Excellence Award at "The 5th Emba Art Exhibition", Emba Museum of Chinese Modern Art (Hyogo, Japan)
1983
Selected for "The 10th Exhibition of Contemporary Japanese Sculpture", Ube Open-Air Museum (Yamaguchi, Japan)
2007
Participated in the Penza International Sculpture Symposium (Penza, Russia) 2009, 2012

Selected Solo Exhibitions

1983
"The 16th Contemporary Exhibition of Japan", Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, Kyoto
1984
"ART NOW '84", Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Hyogo,
1987
"Jun Tsukawaki Sculpture Exhibition: Commemorating the 3rd Hongo Shin Award / Forged Iron 1981–1987", Hongo Shin Memorial Sapporo Sculpture Museum, Hokkaido
1990
"The 3rd Minokamo Sculpture Symposium '90", Maehira Park, Gifu
1998
"MISSOURI Project", Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts Artist-in-Residence, Nebraska, USA
1999
"TEMPORARY GALLERY", Kobe University, Hyogo
1999
"Jun Tsukawaki Exhibition", Nishiwaki City Okanoyama Museum of Art, Hyogo
2003
"Jun Tsukawaki Exhibition — From The Earth Project: The Vision of Seventy Feet High", Nishinomiya City Otani Memorial Art Museum, Hyogo
2005
"Jun Tsukawaki Exhibition", Kansai Contemporary Art Laboratory [KCAL], Hyogo
2007
Jun Tsukawaki Exhibition "WORK in", CAP HOUSE, Hyogo
2009
"Kobe Biennale 2009: Kobe Port Open-Air Maritime Art Exhibition", Hyogo
2011
"Jun Tsukawaki: Drawings + Maquettes", Gallery Yamaki Fine Art, Hyogo
2016
"Creating in Incheon: JUN TAMBA works in INCHEON", Incheon Gwandong Gallery, Incheon, South Korea

Selected Group Exhibitions

2016
"KIITO Experimental Exhibition: Re-recognizing and Re-verifying Space Through Sculpture and Body", Design and Creative Center Kobe [KIITO], Hyogo
2017
"Expanding Sculpture: Drawings by Passionate Men — Keiji Uematsu, JUN TAMBA, Chu Enoki", BB Plaza Museum of Art, Hyogo
2020
"Expanding Contemporary Sculpture", Nishimiya City Otani Memorial Art Museum, Hyogo
2026
Tambasasayama Art Festival, Hyogo

Awards

1882
Excellence Award, The 5th Emba Art Exhibition / Emba Museum of Chinese Modern Art
1985
Grand Prize, The 1st Sanda Sculpture Competition
1987
The 3rd Hongo Shin Award
2001
Excellence Award, Asago 2001 Open-Air Sculpture Exhibition IN Tataragi
2001
Hyogo Prefectural Art Encouragement Prize