Yasuhiro ASAI（浅井康宏, Asai Yasuhiro, born 9 June 1983）is an urushi [Japanese lacquer] artist and a maki-e artisan. He was born in Tottori Prefecture, Japan.
Biography
Born on June 9, 1983, Yasuhiro Asai became interested in Urushi (Japanese lacquer) and Maki-e while studying at Kibi Kogen High School. In 2004, he graduated from Takaoka National College, Department of Industrial Design, Lacquerware Course. In 2005, he studied under Kazumi Murose (Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property).
In 2007, Asai became independent, opening his own maki-e studio. He has been based in Kyoto City since June 2017.
Asai is a member of the Urushiko Shigaku Gakkai (History of Lacquerware Association), Nihon Bunkazai Urushi Kyokai(Japan Association for Cultural Property Lacquer), and the Japan Art Craft Association
Principal Award History
2002 Japan Urushi Association, "Scholarship Award" 2004 Takaoka National College, "Yokoyama Prize" 2008 The 51st Japan Traditional Art Crafts Chugoku Branch Exhibition, "Tottori Governor's Award" 2010 The 54th Tottori Prefectural Art Exhibition, "Scholarship Award" 2012 The 55th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Chugoku Branch Exhibition,"Scholarship Award" 2012 The 59th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition,"Newcomer Award" 2015 The 32nd Japan Traditional Urushi Works Exhibition, The Cultural Affairs Agency Commissioner's Award 2017 The 57th East Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition,"Scholarship Award" 2018 Energia Culture and Sports Foundation, Energia Prize, Art Category 2021 The 50th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Kinki Exhibition, "Kyoto Newspaper Prize"
Exhibits
2015 "Nicolai Bergmann - Flowers & Design", Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo
2015 "Urushi no Mirai", Takahashi Setsuro Art Museum of Azumino, Nagano
2018 Ambiente 2018 (Germany), Kyoto Zuihodo Booth, Frankfurt
2018 Craft Sake Week, "Syukiya", Tokyo
2018 "Urushi no Genzai 2018", Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Tokyo
2018 Art Expo Malaysia 2018, Gallery Hanakagesho Booth, Kuala Lumpur
2018 URUSHI Dento to Kakushin (Tradition and Innovation), Kanagawa
2019 "Our Collections! ~Tottori-ken no Art Collection no Koremade to Korekara~", Tottori Prefectural Museum, Tottori 2019 "Bi no Yokan 2019―∞directions―",Takashimaya, Tokyo; Osaka; Kyoto; Aichi 2019 "Gendai Kogei no Tenkai (Development of Contemporary Japanese Arts & Crafts) 2019", Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum, Ishikawa 2021 CHRISTIE'S NEW YORK "Japanese and Korean Art" 2021 "Shikkai - Kaze no Jidai no Keishosyatachi -", Takashimaya, Tokyo; Osaka; Kyoto; Kanagawa 2022 "Genshi no Shouchu -Gendai Shitsugeika 4nin no Rinko- Contemporary Urushi Art Exhibition by Four Artists", Ginza Wako, Tokyo
Collections
John C. Weber Collection
L.U.CEUM Collection, Chopard Manufacture, Fleurier, Switzerland
Solo exhibitions
April 2017 "光をめぐる[Hikari wo Meguru] (Follow the Light)", Seibu Ikebukuro, Tokyo
November 2021 "情熱[Jonetsu]ーPassionー", Seibu Ikebukuro, Tokyo
Books
-光をめぐる- [Hikari wo Meguru (Follow the Light)] Yasuhiro Asai A Collection of Maki-e Works Author: Yasuhiro Asai. Published by Studio Zipangu First Edition, April 1, 2017, ISBN 978-4-9909546-0-4 情熱-Passion- Yasuhiro Asai A Collection of Lacquerware Works Author: Yasuhiro Asai. Published by Studio Zipangu First Edition, November 10, 2021, ISBN 978-4-9909546-1-1