Norihisa Mizuta × AMAHARE at KYO AMAHARE
「Cradle」
Norihisa Mizuta × AMAHARE at KYO AMAHARE
「Cradle」
Norihisa Mizuta’s exhibition held on the second floor of KYO AMAHARE for the first time in two years.
The theme of this exhibition is "Cradle."
Sleeping or dead?
Wrapped or confined?
Watching or being watched?
Creatures sleeping peacefully in a cradle, bathed in soft sunlight.
What will you feel from their expressions?
◇ Dates
KYO AMAHARE
Friday, October 23 - Tuesday, November 3 (National Holiday), 2026
*Closed on Wednesdays
◇ Artist's Presence
Friday, October 23
◇ Location
KYO AMAHARE 2nd Floor @kyo_amahare
127 Aburaya-cho, Yanaginobanba-higashi-iru, Takoyakushi-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8063
TEL : 075-256-3280
E-mail : kyo@amahare.jp
Hours : 12:00 - 19:00
◇ Reservations No reservation is required for this exhibition. Please feel free to visit us at your convenience.
Norihisa Mizuta × Sabo Kyo
Tea Ceremony "Yurikago"
Sabo Kyo will host a tea ceremony titled "Yurikago" (Cradle) in conjunction with
Norihisa Mizuta's exhibition starting on Friday, October 23.
We will welcome you into a space decorated with Mr. Mizuta's artworks.
This is a special tea ceremony where Mr. Mizuta himself will also join our guests.
Please look forward to a menu prepared exclusively for this day.
We sincerely look forward to your attendance.
Tea Ceremony "Yurikago" @sabo.kyo_amahare
Scenery: Norihisa Mizuta
Host: Yurika Kanamitsu (Sabo Kyo)
Tea: Yorozu
Sweets: Magobee Kobuya
Supervision: Suguru Tokubuchi (Yorozu)
Guest: Norihisa Mizuta
Date: Friday, October 23
Time: 15:00 - 17:00
Location: Sabo Kyo / KYO
Fee: 8,800 yen (tax included)
*A 10% service charge will be added separately.
Reservations: Accepted via TableCheck
Please make your reservation through the "Reserve" button on our Instagram @sabo.kyo_amahare profile, or via the Sabo Kyo website.
https://www.tablecheck.com/ja/sabo-kyo/reserve/message
Payment: Online payment by credit card is required at the time of reservation.
*Cancellations made within 24 hours of the reservation time will incur a 100% cancellation fee.
Photo / Eri Masuda @massu_90
Text / Kenichi Kaneko @amahare_kaneko
Cradle
I visited Norihisa Mizuta's studio in Fussa, Tokyo, for a meeting about his exhibition held for the first time in two years.
I wonder how many times I have visited here.
Mr. Mizuta welcomed me with his usual gentle smile.
As he guided me into the adjoining gallery, I saw a wooden sculpture of a dog lying there, sleeping comfortably in a patch of sunlight.
"I'm thinking of making this the main piece for the exhibition. What do you think?"
Mr. Mizuta asked.
He then suggested, "I would love the theme of the exhibition to be 'Cradle'."
I had heard a little that he was taking on the challenge of carving dog motifs, something he had previously avoided.
I was captivated by its adorable expression, and feeling that the theme "Cradle" was incredibly fitting and wonderful for Mr. Mizuta, I replied, "Let's definitely do that."
Watching
The title "Cradle" seems to represent Mr. Mizuta's very attitude toward creation.
A baby in a cradle spends its time being watched over by a gentle family.
On the other hand, from the perspective of someone outside the cradle, the viewpoint shifts to "watching the baby."
According to Mr. Mizuta,
"You can view it as being safe inside the cradle, but you can also perceive it as being immobilized and under surveillance."
Beyond the gaze of this bird, a comfortably sleeping creature lay quietly.
Wrapped or confined?
Watching or being watched?
Being Watched
Mr. Mizuta says he likes a framed, trimmed world.
In the studio, a large wooden carving of an animal lies inside a small room.
Through the glass, you can see the animal's peaceful expression.
Alive or dead?
Dead?
Moving into the atelier workspace, several birds in the midst of creation rest on the table.
Will life dwell within these birds that are about to be born?
Alive?
The lovely expressions of the birds gathering by the bright little window.
What is reflected in their gaze?
Cradle
At first glance, this artwork seems to belong to a completely different worldview.
Initially, I thought the exhibition would be centered around this "Kibana" (traditional architectural wood carving) style.
Ultimately, based on his own thoughts, it became a prominent supporting piece in this exhibition,
but its powerful style truly captures the heart.
I feel that the word "Cradle" reflects not only Mr. Mizuta's artworks, but also his own state of mind.
Just like his works that drift between the ambiguous boundaries of being alive and dead,
Mr. Mizuta seems to navigate a realm that is neither strictly craft nor pure art.
Please look forward to Mr. Mizuta's current expression—
something only he can bring to life, born from confronting materials that have weathered over time.
We sincerely look forward to your visit.