Masamitsu Kunugi studied design and pattern making at a fashion school, and through his experiences in furniture restoration, cooking, and studying abroad, he has refined his sensibilities by reflecting deeply on himself. Inspired by his partner’s words, “handcrafting life,” he began to cherish daily life itself and see creating things for everyday use as an extension of that life, which eventually led him to focus on making baskets.
“I don’t really consider myself a craftsman in the traditional sense. I feel like I walk a path somewhere between craftsman and artist. What’s most important to me is the philosophy behind what I create. I strive to keep things as simple as possible, working closely with the material without overworking it. If I were to compare it to cooking, it’s like ‘just adding salt to steamed vegetables.’ But sourcing the right materials is absolutely essential.”
Living in the forests of Nagano, Kunugi became a lumberjack out of necessity, needing wood to start fires. As he began creating, he used this experience to personally gather materials like bamboo and bark, always taking the seasons into account. One day, while foraging, he came across the peeling bark of a metasequoia tree. Inspired by the memory of Native Americans making baskets from bark, he decided to try making one himself. Combining the bark with bamboo, this basket became one of his signature creations. The forms he creates, born from his interactions with materials, his memories, and his free-flowing imagination, reflect the unique sensibility he has developed over the years.
“My work follows two paths: one is Hibi no Kago (Everyday Baskets), focused on practical shapes, sizes, and structures for daily use, while the other is Jiyū Shisō Kago (Freestyle Baskets), made from spontaneous ideas. Sometimes, a Jiyū Shisō Kago will evolve into a Hibi no Kago as it finds its place in daily life.”
Kunugi defines craftsmanship as “the curiosity that leads to the exploration of both the inner and outer self. From this curiosity, inevitable forms and ideas are born.” We invite you to explore the woven pieces he has made. The exhibition runs until Sunday, October 27.
For more information on the special exhibition, Masamitsu Kunugi, ‘Bansho’, click here.
PROFILE
Masamitsu Kunugi
Masamitsu Kunugi, a woven product craftsman born in 1986, has roots in both Korea and Japan. He graduated from Bunka Fashion College’s Apparel Technology Department in 2008 and studied restoration at a Scandinavian furniture shop in Tokyo. In 2011, he pursued studies in Denmark, where he delved into environmental issues and peace at a school with a multicultural student body. During his travels in New Zealand, he fortuitously encountered the teachings of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, which inspired him greatly. In 2019, he moved to Nagano, where he now weaves baskets and contemplates the universe.
