四代田邊竹雲斎／Tanabe Chikuunsai Ⅳ

明治時代に端を発する堺の竹工芸の家に生まれ、2017年に襲名した四代田辺竹雲斎（本名・健雄）は、若手の伝統工芸作家として注目を集めています。

1973年に三代竹雲斎の次男として生まれた四代竹雲斎は、幼少期より竹に親しみ、自然と竹工芸の道を志すようになります。大阪市立工芸高校美術科を卒業すると、東京芸術大学美術部彫刻科に進学し、在籍中は黒竹を用いた作品などを制作しました。1999年に同大学を卒業後は、大分県別府市にある竹工芸訓練支援センターで2年間、竹の編組といった基礎技術を身につけたのち、実家に戻って三代竹雲斎に師事しました。若くして頭角を現し、2001年にはアメリカ・フィラデルフィア美術館のクラフトショーに招待出品し、その作品が同美術館に買い上げられます。以降、ボストン美術館や大英博物館などで展覧会を開催し、その名を日本のみならず世界へ轟かせていきました。

四代竹雲斎が注目されるゆえんは、伝統的な技術や精神を継承し、伊勢神宮や新嘗祭・大嘗祭で使用されるような宝物などを制作しつつも、異分野とのコラボレーションを通じて竹工芸が持つ可能性を押し広げ、さらに巨大なインスタレーション作品によって新たな境地を切り開いていくところにあります。初代が得意とした重厚な「荒編み」、二代が開発した繊細な透かし編みの技法「亀甲編み」や「鱗編み」、三代が取り組んだ矢竹（弓矢の矢軸の材料となった竹）を用いた創作など、先代たちの「竹雲斎七技」を取り入れた作品群では、精緻な細工と歴史の深みを味わうことができます。一方、デジタルアートや漆芸など、多岐にわたる分野の若手作家たちとのコラボレーション作品は、現代アートとしての先鋭性や実験精神が光ります。そして、虎竹という希少種の竹を使用したダイナミックなインスタレーションは、四代竹雲斎の代名詞ともいえる作品です。海外ではあまり見られない竹という素材自体はもちろんのこと、展示の終了後にほどかれ、新たな作品に再利用されるという制作過程も、SDGsの観点から国際的に高い評価を得ています。2016年には、フランス国立ギメ美術館で日本人初のインスタレーション作品【五大】を発表するなど、その斬新な創作は世界各国で反響を呼んでいます。

初代から引き継がれてきた「伝統とは挑戦なり」という言葉を実践し続ける四代竹雲斎は、間違いなく現代を牽引し、伝統を未来へとつないでいくアーティストの一人です。

Tanabe Chikuunsai IV, born into a family of bamboo craftsmen in Sakai with roots tracing back to the Meiji era, succeeded to the name in 2017 and is gaining attention as a young traditional craftsman.

Born in 1973 as the second son of Tanabe Chikuunsai III, Tanabe Chikuunsai IV became acquainted with bamboo from a young age and naturally gravitated towards the path of bamboo craftsmanship. After graduating from the Art course at Osaka City Kogei High School, he enrolled in the Sculpture program at the Fine Arts Department of Tokyo University of the Arts, where he created works using black bamboo. Upon completing his studies at the university in 1999, he spent two years at the Bamboo Craft Training Support Center in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, honing basic techniques such as bamboo weaving before returning to his hometown to study under Tanabe Chikuunsai III. Rising to prominence at a young age, he was invited to exhibit at the Craft Show of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 2001, with his work subsequently acquired by the museum. Since then, he has showcased his works at esteemed institutions including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the British Museum, establishing his reputation not only in Japan but also worldwide.

The reason for the attention garnered by Tanabe Chikuunsai IV lies in his mastery of traditional techniques and spirit, as well as his exploration of the potential of bamboo craftsmanship through interdisciplinary collaborations. He is known for creating treasures used in revered locations such as the Ise Grand Shrine, as well as for ceremonies like the Shinto rituals of “Niiname-sai” and “Daijo-sai”, which commemorate the first harvest and major thanksgiving festivals respectively. Additionally, he has pushed boundaries with his monumental installation works. His pieces incorporate the “Seven Techniques of Chikuunsai”, encompassing the sturdy “rough weaving” favored by the first generation, the intricate “turtle-shell weaving” and “scale weaving” developed by the second generation, and the innovative use of arrow bamboo pursued by the third generation, allowing audiences to appreciate both masterful craftsmanship and historical significance. Furthermore, his collaborations with emerging artists across diverse fields such as digital art and lacquer art reflect the avant-garde spirit of contemporary art. Moreover, his dynamic installations featuring rare tiger bamboo have become synonymous with Tanabe Chikuunsai IV. Notably, both the bamboo material itself, seldom seen outside Japan, and the sustainable approach of dismantling installations post-exhibition for reuse in new works have garnered international acclaim aligned with the principles of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). In 2016, he presented the groundbreaking Japanese installation work, “Five Elements”, at the National Museum of the Château de Fontainebleau in France, capturing global attention with his innovative creations.

Continuing to embody the ethos of “tradition as a challenge” passed down from the first generation, Tanabe Chikuunsai IV undoubtedly stands as one of the leading artists of today, bridging tradition with the future.