Junko Kotani Kyo-Shinzimono (wood carving)／Kyoto Prefecture
Biography
April 1996 Entered Kyoto Traditional Crafts College after working as a programmer at a system development company
April 1998 Graduated from Kyoto College of Traditional Crafts with a degree in wood carving.
Studied at Yano Sculpture under traditional craftsmen (Kyo Sashimono) Mr. Kasumaro Yano and Mr. Masaki Yano.
March 2001: Certified as a successor of Kyoto craft techniques.
June 2006 Independent Sculpture Studio Kotani
February 2010: Certified as a traditional craftsman of Kyoto finger works designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
Awards
May 2004 Kyoto Wooden Crafts Cooperative Association Exhibition, Kyoto Wooden Crafts Exhibition, Director-General's Prize
December 2007: Selected for the National Traditional Crafts Exhibition
May 2008 Kyoto Wood Crafts Association Exhibition, Kyoto Wood Crafts Exhibition, Director-General's Prize
May 2012 Asahi Newspaper Award, Kyoto Wood Crafts Association Exhibition
May 2016 Kyoto Wood Crafts Association Exhibition, Kyoto Governor's Prize
May 2017 Kyoto Wood Crafts Association Exhibition, Kyoto Newspaper Award
June, 2019 Kyoto Wood Crafts Cooperative Exhibition, Kyoto Traditional Crafts Industry Promotion Association Representative Director Award, Asahi Shimbun Award
Profile
What inspired you to get into this work?
I enrolled in a traditional crafts school because I wanted to do a job that I could do for the rest of my life and to have a job in my hands.
After entering the school, I chose wood carving.
What do you want to appeal the most in your work?
The color of wood is often thought of as a plain brown, but I use various species of wood to give a sense of color to my work.
I hope that people will enjoy the softness, prettiness, and colors of the wooden objects I make.
What do you keep in mind when creating your work?
Although they are often thought of as luxury items, we use traditional craft techniques to create items that can be held in the hand and used in a familiar way.
What do you want to achieve from now on? Or how do you want to live?
We would like to make products that can be picked up and cherished.