OVER THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS Japan Society has regularly held exhibitions that highlight developments in the world of Japanese crafts. While the majority of these,including most recently Contemporary Clay (2006), have focused on ceramics, the present show is our first foray into the world of bamboo sculpture, an artistic phenomenon that is little appreciated even in Japan and virtually unknown in the United States. New Bamboo: Contemporary Japanese Masters explores the emergence of bamboo sculpture,an extraordinary modern genre built upon an ancient tradition. Today's bamboo sculptors are re-imagining their craft in exciting new ways, creating beautiful and inventive forms that set new standards in technical virtuosity.
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