Aged-wood Lacquered Bowl (C1)

Item No. : AKRT/C1

First encounter with Arakawa san’s wood lacquer works, I was immediately drawn to the rich textural surfaces, the playful yet sophisticated interplay of colours and the irregularity of wood shapes. Arakawa san works with remnant or aged wood. He is self-taught wood.

Every of his creation starts with the piece of wood in its natural state. He carefully consider its physical character, the grain, the eye, crevices and holes …for his designing process, drawing out the best attributes from the wood piece and giving it a new life. His rich lacquer layering technique is what that sets him apart from other craftsmen. Many a times, observers are surprised to learn that it is wood after seeing his works. He is able to use the unique characteristics of a piece of aged wood and blend seamlessly with lacquer to create surfaces that reflect minerals, landscapes, rocks or metal….only when one look closely, then one can see the wood grains that lend to the creation.  Not one piece is the same, depending on the season, the temperature and humidity when the lacquer is applied. Thus, his pieces speak “individuality”.

Arakawa san makes furniture too.