A major exhibition of silver vessels by contemporary Japanese silversmith Hiroshi Suzuki - February 8 to March 6, 2010

• Wednesday, 18 November 2009

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PRESS RELEASE:
Press Office Contact: Amanda Stücklin
Tel: 020 7367 5913
Email: Amanda.stucklin@thegoldsmiths.co.uk


HIROSHI SUZUKI –SILVER WAVES

A dynamic exhibition of silver vessels by
internationally acclaimed Japanese silversmith
Hiroshi Suzuki

At Goldsmiths’ Hall
Admission Free

Monday February 8 to Saturday March 6, 2010

A MAJOR EXHIBITION of stunning silver vessels at Goldsmiths’ Hall celebrates the remarkable career of contemporary silversmith Hiroshi Suzuki. The title of the exhibition Hiroshi Suzuki – Silver Waves makes direct reference to the many waves, creases, rivulets, ripples and curves in the silver that are so synonymous with Hiroshi’s work. The exhibition, which is open to the public free of charge, runs from Monday February 8 to Saturday March 6, 2010.

Japanese born Hiroshi studied metalwork at Musashino Art University in Tokyo and then, like many foreign students, he was attracted by the high level of metalwork courses on offer in the UK. In 1994 he moved to London to continue with his studies first at Camberwell College of Art and subsequently at the Royal College of Art, graduating in 1999.

Hiroshi specialises in hammering and chasing silver to produce large-scale decorative vessels which have been described as “a fluent expression of nature”. Using a hammer and considerable strength he coaxes and cajoles sheets of silver into shapes successfully creating an illusion that silver is as pliable as clay. Unusually instead of beating the metal over a cast iron stake he often forms the silver in the air. Consequently his vessels have an effortless, organic quality which is both sensuous and full of vigour. He says: “My work can be interpreted as the embodiment of an intuitive sense of organic abstraction, whilst alluding to functional tradition.”

Hiroshi never consciously plans a piece. He never makes models or does preparatory drawings as he feels this process to be inhibiting and restrictive. “I have developed an intuitive relationship – it is the core of my creative process and allows me to approach my work in a highly spontaneous way while at the same time maintaining sensitivity with the material.”

In the ten years since graduating Hiroshi has taken the silversmithing world by storm and his rise to prominence has been as remarkable as his extraordinary hand-raised silver vessels. It is not just the superlative skill of his craftsmanship but the monumental size of the majority of his pieces that makes his work so unique. Avidly collected, he now has works in 27 major public collections across the globe including the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the Museum of Arts and Design, New York and the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide – a testimony to the high esteem in which his work is considered.

Rosemary Ransome Wallis, Curator Collections at Goldsmiths’ Hall first encountered Hiroshi in 1999 following his degree show. She said: “I was immediately struck by the dynamic presence of his work. His subsequent success and considerable contribution to contemporary silver is that ultimately it is Hiroshi’s poetry which defines his work. Working within the Japanese tradition of the spirituality of natural elements such as wind, fire and water, Hiroshi makes these abstractions accessible to Western eyes through his sculptural approach to his vessels.”

The range of Hiroshi’s work included in the exhibition at Goldsmiths’ Hall gives clear visual evidence of his development as a silversmith. In his early student pieces there are subtle hints of the shape of things to come – the odd ripple and wave here and there – while more recent works show how Hiroshi has now mastered the subtleties of exploring fluidity within a form and on a surface to create vessels of great beauty and timelessness.

All Hiroshi’s pieces have names which give an indication of their inspiration for example “Aqua-Poesy VII”, and “Ayawind II”, both from the Goldsmiths’ Company’s collection, as well as “M-Fire IV” and “Earth II” that complete the elemental theme.

The majority of the works on exhibition are in silver, with a few early pieces in copper and other metals, however one of the main show-stoppers is a recent piece “Aqua-Poesy XI Kin” hammer-raised and chased in 22 carat gold. The pieces have all been kindly loaned by institutions, including the Goldsmiths’ Company and private collectors, and several new works, made especially for the exhibition will be unveiled for the first time at Goldsmiths’ Hall.

Hiroshi was recently appointed as a successor to his former professor at Musashino Art University in Tokyo – a huge honour – and now divides his time between Japan and his workshop in London.

Hiroshi Suzuki at 50 is clearly riding high on the crest of a new silver wave!

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• Approximately 80 pieces by Hiroshi will be included in the exhibition “Hiroshi Suzuki – Silver Waves”.

• The exhibition is being held by the Goldsmiths’ Company is association with Adrian Sassoon, the London art dealer who represents Hiroshi Suzuki.

• A short documentary on his work and featuring an interview with Hiroshi, made by filmmakers Michael Howard and James Birkett, will be shown throughout the exhibition.

• An associated book on Hiroshi Suzuki published by Scala will be on sale during the exhibition at a special price of £10. The book will be in paper back with 80 pages and colour illustrations.

• Hiroshi Suzuki will give an illustrated talk about his work and life at Goldsmiths’ Hall on Tuesday February 16 from 6.00-7.00pm and will be signing copies of the associated book. Admission to the talk is free. To book places please contact promotion@thegoldsmiths.co.uk or call Tel: 020 7 606 7010

• Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity of entering a prize draw to win a piece by Hiroshi Suzuki.

• Hiroshi Suzuki’s CV is available on request, listing all previous exhibitions and all the major international museum collections which have his work.

• Opening times: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm

• Venue: Goldsmiths’ Hall, Foster Lane, London EC2V 6BN

• Admission: Free

• Underground Stations: St Paul’s, Mansion House, Barbican

• Buses: 8, 11, 25, 100, 242, 56


For further information and images please contact
Amanda Stücklin
Press Office, the Goldsmiths’ Company,
Tel: 020 7367 5913
Email:Amanda.stucklin@thegoldsmiths.co.uk
www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk

Hiroshi Suzuki is one of 260 silversmiths and jewellers featured on the Goldsmiths’ Company’s on-line directory www.whoswhoingoldandsilver.com

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