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AUN II

Basket
2014 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This substantial woven form, measuring almost 50 centimetres in height, is a compelling example of the experimental approach to basket-making taken by Tanabe Chikuunsai IV (1973-), who has recently succeeded to the fourth-generation headship of one of Japan’s leading family of basket-makers. Rising from a heart-shaped base, it has rounded corners and irregularly undulating sides that taper upwards to a low peak from which and from below which the woven bamboo strips of which the piece consists twist downwards and outwards in a fluidly knotted configuration. Both the lighter internal and darker external surfaces of the bamboo strips are visible, the subtle patterning this provides being enhanced by the surface marking of the tiger bamboo (torachiku) the artist has used. The ‘Aun’ of the title of the piece means alpha and omega and is the Japanese equivalent of the Hindu mantra ‘Om’ or ‘Aum’.

Object details

Object type
TitleAUN II (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Basket / Sculpture, 'AUN II', woven bamboo, Japan, 2014, by Tanabe Chikuunsai IV (1973-)
Japan, modern crafts, studio, basketry
Physical description
Squat form of with rounded corners and irregularly undulating sides that taper upwards to a peak from which and from below which the bamboo strips from which the piece is woven twist down and outwards in a fluidly knotted configuration; the lighter internal and darker external surfaces of the bamboo strips are visible, the patterning this provides being enhanced by the surface markings of the tiger bamboo (torachiku) the artist has used
Dimensions
  • Height: 48.0cm
  • Width: 53.0cm
  • Depth: 63.0cm
Measurements taken from exhibition catalogue
Style
Credit line
Purchased with the support of Christie's and many other donors
Object history
Exhibited at the exhibition 'Zen by Shouchiku Tanabe' held in Brussels at (gallery) Pierre Marie Guiraud, 7 March - 5 April 2014
Summary
This substantial woven form, measuring almost 50 centimetres in height, is a compelling example of the experimental approach to basket-making taken by Tanabe Chikuunsai IV (1973-), who has recently succeeded to the fourth-generation headship of one of Japan’s leading family of basket-makers. Rising from a heart-shaped base, it has rounded corners and irregularly undulating sides that taper upwards to a low peak from which and from below which the woven bamboo strips of which the piece consists twist downwards and outwards in a fluidly knotted configuration. Both the lighter internal and darker external surfaces of the bamboo strips are visible, the subtle patterning this provides being enhanced by the surface marking of the tiger bamboo (torachiku) the artist has used. The ‘Aun’ of the title of the piece means alpha and omega and is the Japanese equivalent of the Hindu mantra ‘Om’ or ‘Aum’.
Collection
Accession number
FE.36-2014

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Record createdMarch 26, 2014
Record URL
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