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from the Fine Arts Research Department ago. So, believes Murose, you can learn at Tokyo University of the Arts, specialimore, and more rapidly, from the lessons sing in Urushi Arts. of the past, assimilating skills in an enKazumi Murose says that the source of joyable way and at the same time conCOULD “I C OULD GO GO his passion is Urushi itself. He has dediveying wisdom to the new generations. WITHOUT SLEEP, cated all his life to Urushi, captivated by “It is important not to mimic the old JUST TO its charm, seeking to make it come alive expressions. We should add new design, and desiring to make people understand new energy and new creativity into old KEEP MAKING AND its beauty and characteristics. His big things, which is the essence of Japanese WORKING concern is how to pass on his Waza to tradition. Urushi is a living art that has WITH URUSHI” future generations. Murose thinks that existed for more than 900 years. When the biggest difficulty he has to face is not you restore a thousand-year-old artefact, having enough time, as he is dedicated to you can see the progress of technology restoration activities during the day and through Urushi. From specimens of each creative activities in the evening. However, Murose says he era, you can learn the work that is not transmitted, technowould go without sleep, just to keep making and working logy, materials and so forth. It is a silent teacher. What you with Urushi, which is the source of all his happiness. get from it is infinite. It is also great fun.” When he turned forty, in 1991, he established the Mejiro Murose is inspired by the art that he learns through restoInstitute of Urushi Conservation for the preservation of rations. “When I create my work, my aim is always to make this cultural property and to convey the art to the next people happy. I want people to touch my work. Instead of generations. He thought that to learn through restoration just expressing one’s own self-assertion, art should satisfy is a great way to study, a way to see beautiful antiques and give joy to both artists and public. I think this is the with a modern point of view. For Kazumi Murose, when true meaning of art in the 21st century.” Murose's style is it comes to tradition, we tend to think that it is a simple characterised by the artful representation of the movement matter of transferring old teachings. In fact, creative deof wind and water and the sense of movement of air. signs are born in each period of the past, and have survived Murose also believes that art can lead to peace. He says to the present day. Combinations of old technique and gently and firmly: “Urushi is Strong and Beautiful. There the creativity and design of each era is what can be seen is something that never changes, which is the traditional and felt and learned through restoration works. Japan is a value of Japanese art. Creation and design are always free, great country as there are many cultural properties which and new styles can blend with tradition, all the way into the can teach us infinite things from many hundreds of years future. To pass this on, I keep touching Urushi."
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