We are pleased to share that Hidenobu Keizuka, a Wajima lacquer artisan from CACL, is one of the participating makers in Shaped by Many, a collaborative exhibition by internationally acclaimed artist Otobong Nkanga, currently on view at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa.

Keizuka will also appear as one of the performers in the performance program on Saturday, November 8.

Admission is free.
We warmly invite you to visit and experience this unique fusion of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary art.

The front half of the stick was crafted by Hidenobu Keizuka using the traditional Wajima lacquerware (Wajima-nuri) technique.

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Exhibition Overview
• Dates: September 27 (Sat) – November 24 (Mon / Holiday), 2025
• Venue: Gallery 13, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
• Closed: Mondays (except Oct 13, Oct 27, Nov 3, Nov 24); also closed Oct 14, Oct 28, Nov 4
• Admission: Free

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About the Exhibition

Born in Nigeria and currently based in Belgium, Otobong Nkanga explores the complex relationship between people and the natural environment—earth, land, and sea—through stories, materials, and their political implications.

This exhibition presents a newly commissioned work produced in collaboration with craftspeople based in Ishikawa Prefecture, following Nkanga’s summer residency in the region. The artist researched local materials and techniques, including lacquerware, ceramics, textiles, and metalwork, which informed the creation of Shaped by Many.

The central piece, Shaped by Many, takes the form of a “stick-like” sculpture designed by Nkanga and realized through the combined skills of artisans working in Wajima lacquerware, Yamanaka lacquerware, Suzu pottery, and Noto jofu (ramie textile). The work also functions as a performative instrument: two performers carry it while recounting stories related to the embedded materials and techniques.

Throughout the exhibition period, artisans, researchers, and performance artists connected to Ishikawa will activate the work every weekend through storytelling and movement, bridging the traditions of craft and the language of contemporary performance.

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Significance

While Ishikawa Prefecture is known for its many traditional crafts, opportunities for creators from different fields to collaborate on a single work have been rare. As its title suggests, Shaped by Many embodies the idea of art formed by numerous hands and histories—transcending the boundaries between craft and contemporary art and weaving together local memories into new narratives.

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Performance Schedule (Selected)

Performances take place in the exhibition gallery and the museum’s Interaction Zone on weekends throughout the exhibition.

Saturday, November 8, 16:30–17:00
• Hidenobu Keizuka (Wajima lacquerware, CACL)
• Kotaro Sumi (Noh actor, Kyogen style)
• Reishu Sakai (Vocal artist)
• Mr. Otani (Musician)

For the full schedule and performer list, please visit the official museum website.