A rustic ode to ancient beauty
- Shun uses cast glass as his method of expression
- He draws inspiration from a variety of crafts, such as ceramics and metalwork
- His pieces reflect his love for ancient objects
Shun Kumagai was drawn to antique shops and ancient artifacts found in museums from an early age. While in college, he encountered a glass workshop where blowing, engraving and casting were practised side by side. Through experimenting, he realised that cast glass best embodied the weight, texture and presence he admired. “I cannot fully control the final outcome with my method. I enjoy the surprise when the piece emerges from the kiln," Shun says. In the context of Japanese traditional crafts, glass remains a relatively young medium. “Industrial glass production was dominant for a long time, and studio glass artists only began to emerge in the post-war period,” he explains. Within this comparatively new field of expression, Shun continues to push the boundaries of glass creations by innovatively introducing inspiration from other disciplines.
Interview
- Why did you choose to work with glass?
- I chose glass casting despite its inefficiency. It involves long cooling times and moulds that must be broken consistently. This method allows me to express the rustic beauty of ancient objects: cracks, rough textures and the silvery argentation that forms on glass buried in the earth over immeasurable amounts of time.
- Do you reproduce antique works?
- I do not intentionally look at any specific models when creating a form. For example, even if I am deeply drawn to clay vessels that date back 2000 years, I digest them fully before I begin the making process. They serve only as inspiration, not as direct references.
- How did you come to find your original method?
- I took a hint from metal carving in my creation of the wax prototype. Ceramic works gave me an idea of mixing soil, which creates the rustic finish. I am curious to learn from other crafts, how their techniques and philosophies might be translated into glass, and that is where my originality lies.
- Do you have a message for aspiring artists?
- In the beginning, I experimented with many methods, unsure whether there was a place for my true expression. Then an urushi lacquer master told me, "You must keep going for at least ten years before you find your way." He was right, as I found my audience after a decade. I want to pass that message on to anyone who may be doubting themselves today.
Shun Kumagai is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2008
Works
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Shun Kumagai
