NAGANUMA Kouun

NAGANUMA Kouun (1941-) Craftsman. Born in the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefeture, where he currently resides. Given name: Hideo. Studied under the calligrapher Ai Suiyou. Discovered an inkstone inscription in 1980. Created "Kouun Inkstone" in 1981. In 1983, he produced "Kouun's Jar" a jar made out of reclaimed felled tree roots. His philosophy towards work can be summarized by his quote, "As an individual life form born within the life forms that are the Earth and the Universe, I want to continually seek the true beauty of the materials I work with, namely wood and stone, while being respectful and grateful towards nature." A victim of the 2011 Touhoku Earthquake, he is currently working out of a temporary residence. His latest work, titled "Poem and Picture" celebrates the wonder of nature. He is an artist whose career path has followed the four seasons of life. His representative works are the inkstone, "Heaven and Earth", and the jar, "The Eternal Spring".