SHIMIZU Senga

SHIMIZU Senga (1944-) MIZUHIKI artist (JAPAN traditional craft). Born in Ibaraki Prefecture. Currently resides in Yachiyo City, Chiba Prefecture. Learned techniques of MIZUHIKI weaving at her birthplace, which had books about samurai rules of decorum, etc. from the Edo period. Succeeded to Mizuhiki Sengaryu PRESIDENT in 1972. Her creative and lyrical works are referred to as “Senga world,” and receive high acclaim both in Japan and other countries. Established a new form of “MIZUHIKI decoration” that is art that arranges beautiful forms with MIZUHIKI that have over 1,300 years of history. Pursues a Japanese sense of beauty that protects traditions but also matches the times. Her works, which range from classic to modern, are meticulous and express ideal familiarity and good dreams that are rich in stories, such as “flowers or fruit that give a full sense of the season, a fantastical and elegant birds, an ancient lucky item, or a stately bonsai plant.” In 2005 he became the first Japanese person to receive a certificate of appreciation from the Nobel Peace Foundation and received a Japan-France Emile medal of honor, and in 2006 he received a Japan-Thailand exchange selection art medal. In 2007, received the United Nations Red Ribbon grand prize for art and recognized as a Unicef social artist. Received a Thai royal art trophy in 2010. Recognized as a Japan cultural heritage artist in 2011. Currently instructing younger people and conveying the history and significance of MIZUHIKI both in Japan and throughout the world, working toward international goodwill through various forms of media and seminars as a culture and peace ambassador for United Nations NGOs, and taking on a role as a pioneer in this field.