HIROSHI YAMANO

Born: Fukuoka, Japan 1956

Resides: Japan

Hiroshi Yamano takes a fresh look at his surruondings and finds inspiration in what is directly in front of him, a leaf, a flower, the scales of fish glistening in the sun; after traveling widely, looking for where he can feel truly at home, he is now happy to suspend the search and work in his studio in Fukui Precfecture in Japan.

Yamano's love of Japanese craft and metal work, can be seen in his contemporary take on the old mofifs and compositional forms of old Japanese art. Traditional Japanese and Chinese paintings employ a motif known as ka chyo fu getu. Ka in Japanese means flower, chyo is a bird, fu means scene, and getu means every month. The old paintings used the flow & bird posed in a natural scene to portray natural landscapes. A series of paintings could show nature across the changing seasons. “These themes exist strongly in Japanese and Chinese minds. They are strong in my mind as well. My newest phase of work is based on this inspiration.” GlassArt, November/December, 2011.

From “Elusive Catch: The sculpture of Hiroshi Yamano”, by John Brunetti, critic, curator, and educator:

“ Japan is a country whose identity is deeply associated with the sea. Seen as both a bridge and a barrier to the west, the sea for many Japanese has become an evocative symbol for the conflicts between tradition and change, isolation and openness, protection and danger. Sculptor Hiroshi Yamano has repeatedly explored these issues throughout his career as he has used the fish as his elusive, alter ego. Working in the tradition of blown glass, this accomplished artist has translated his own personal experiences, as a man continually traveling between the cultures of east and west, into universal statements that convey the delicate relationships that either ensure or disrupt one's sense of harmony and belonging.”

EDUCATION

  • 1989 - M.F.A. Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
  • 1984 - Tokyo Glass Art Institute, Tokyo, Japan
  • 1982 - California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA
  • 1981 - B.A. Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

  • 2006 - Present - Professor of Glass Department, Osaka University of Arts, Osaka, Japan
  • 2005 - Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA
  • 2004 - Grand Crystal Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
  • 2003 - Chair of Glass Department, Osaka University of Arts, Osaka, Japan
  • 2002, 2000, 1994, 1991 - Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA
  • 1990 - Tokyo Glass Art Institute, Tokyo, Japan
  • 1988 - Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC
  • 1986 - Leon Applebaum Glass Studio, Plattsburg, NY

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Founder and Studio Director:
  • 1999 - 2009 - Kanaz Forest of Creation Glass Workshop, Kanazu, Japan
  • 2000 - Established Glass School at Ezra Glass Studio, Kanazu, Japan
  • 1998 - Established Ezra Glass Studio at Kanaz Forest of Creation, Kanazu, Japan
  • 1998 - Glass Art Document, Kanazu, Japan
  • 1991 - Established Ezra Glass Studio, Ohtsuki, Japan

SELECTED MUSEUM AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

  • Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, Wisconsin, USA
  • Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
  • Corning Glass Museum, Corning, New York, USA
  • Gerald L. Cafesjian Museum of Contemporary Art, Yerevan, Armenia
  • Grand Crystal Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
  • Kurokabe Glass Museum, Nagahama, Japan
  • Lowe Art Museum, Miami, FL
  • Museum of American Glass, Millville, NJ
  • Museum of Arts and Crafts, Itaami, Japan
  • Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs, CA
  • Rochester Institute of Technology Library, Permanent Collection, Rochester, NY, USA
  • Wheaton Glass Museum, Millville, New Jersey, USA
  • Winter Park City Hall, Winter Park, Florida, USA

AWARDS AND HONORS

  • 2007 - Midland Museum of Excellence, 35th Annual Invitational Royal Oak, MI
  • 2005 - NHK Prize, Osaka Kogei Exhibition, Osaka, Japan
  • 2005 - Jurors Award Habatat Galleries Michigan 33rd Annual International
  • 2005 - Invitational, Royal Oak, MI
  • 2004 - Osaka Prefecture Governor Prize, Osaka Kogei Exhibition, Osaka, Japan
  • 1994 - Notojima Town Prize, Japan Modern Glass Art Exhibition, Notojima, Japan
  • 1993 - Asahi Newspaper Company Prize, Glass in Japan, Tokyo, Japan
  • 1991 - Rakow Award, Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY
  • 1990 - Best of Show, Winter Park Festival, Winter Park, FL
  • 1989 - 2nd Prize, 100 American Craftsmen, Buffalo, NY