peace of mind…

Reverence for nature is a guiding principal in Japanese culture, while elegant restraint is a hallmark of their aesthetic. Hiroshi Yamano’s glass vessels are gorgeously painted with peaceful scenes of nature—unfurling blossoms, delicate birds, and striated skies. There is a sense of hushed movement, as the artist visually captures the poetry of flora and fauna and lures the viewer into an easy communion with nature.

“Japan is a country that has four distinct seasons, and the seasons have traditionally been a popular subject in Japanese art. An appreciation of the changing seasons also permeates popular culture, as people take the time to enjoy scenes of natural beauty at different times of the year, to eat seasonal foods and to decorate their homes with objects that reflect the changing seasons. I, too, have a strong awareness of the natural world that surrounds me. As I grow older, I find myself wanting to spend more time in nature for the peace of mind that it brings to me.  I value the simplicity and quiet that I encounter there, surrounded by the beauty of the Japanese landscape. My art is a reflection of that beauty; nature is the source of my creativity. In my work I want to interpret the feelings and sensations of having a close connection to nature, and through it share the beauty of the changing seasons in Japan with the viewer.”

— Hiroshi Yamano

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A video of Hiroshi Yamano working at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma in 2016 during his residency.

“My Every Day”

How wonderful to get a glimpse into a Spring day of Hiroshi Yamano, as he takes us for a walk with his little dogs, through Kanazu Forest of Creation, the artist colony where he lives, to visit his painting studio. We see the beautiful woodlands of his home, and the pear tree flowers which inspired a painting on the base of a sculpture. Later in the video, we visit the hot shop at Osaka University of Art where Hiroshi teaches. It is the largest private art school in Japan, with approximately 7000 students majoring in the arts.

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“…I hope everybody is getting better and better….”

FEATURED WORKS BY HIROSHI YAMANO

Hiroshi Yamano attended the California College of Arts and Crafts, the Tokyo Art Institute, Penland School of Crafts (where he served as an assistant), before receiving his MFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, in 1989.

He currently teaches in Osaka and has instructed and lectured throughout the world, including at both the Tokyo Glass Institute and the Pilchuck School of Glass, as well as serving as guest artist in Waterford Crystal in Ireland in 1998.  In 2019, he was visiting artist at the Chrysler Museum of Art Glass Studio. His works are in major collections in Japan, the US, and abroad.

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