Hidenobu Keizuka, a Wajima lacquerware artisan from CACL, participated in the performance program held on Saturday, November 8, as part of the exhibition “Otobong Nkanga: Shaped by Many” at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa.

Using Wajima lacquerware techniques, Keizuka was one of the artisans who contributed to Otobong Nkanga’s new work, Shaped by Many. Keizuka carried the piece alongside Noh-Kyogen actor Kotaro Sumi while processing through the exhibition venue. As they walked, Keizuka read a letter expressing the emotions imbued in the artwork.

About “Shaped by Many”

Shaped by Many was created as a result of the artist’s research into the diverse materials and craft techniques of Ishikawa Prefecture during a residency last summer. Based on Otobong Nkanga’s design, the work is a staff-like piece that fuses various local traditional techniques and materials, including Wajima lacquerware, Yamanaka lacquerware, Suzu ware, and Noto-jofu (ramie fabric).

Regarding the Wajima lacquerware section, Keizuka says he approached the creation with a wish for regeneration from loss, based on his personal experience of losing his home in the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. The ramie cloth and diatomaceous earth symbolize the memory of the collapsed walls; the vermilion and black lacquer represent the traces of fire; white signifies tranquility, and the young leaf green symbolizes hope. The work embodies a desire to promote interest in Noto and support its recovery.

Comment from Hidenobu Keizuka

“I participated in the performance for ‘Otobong Nkanga: Shaped by Many.’ I put my thoughts on the section I was responsible for into a script and practiced repeatedly up until the day of the performance. My co-performer was Noh-Kyogen actor Kotaro Sumi. His steady leadership was a great help, and it was a reassuring experience on stage. During the actual performance, the direction we carried the work and the movements were different from practice, and due to my nerves, there were moments when I spoke a little too fast, so I would give myself a self-score of 30 points. Nevertheless, being able to express myself in front of many people was a very valuable experience. I will use this experience as encouragement to further enhance my future artwork and activities.”

Hidenobu Keizuka Profile

He studied under Kaga maki-e artist Daisan Nomura I, and completed his studies as an auditor in the Urushi Art program at Kanazawa College of Art, aspiring to create works from lacquer forms. At the age of 27, he moved to Wajima upon getting married and engaged in maki-e and the production of daily-use tableware at a Wajima lacquerware studio. In his home studio, he created maki-e works, including maki-e jewelry, and participated in solo and group exhibitions. Following the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, he relocated to Kanazawa and joined CACL’s production team, resonating with Mr. Okuyama’s vision for art.

Exhibition Details

Exhibition Title: Otobong Nkanga: Shaped by Many
Dates: Saturday, September 27, 2025 – Monday (Holiday), November 24, 2025
Venue: Gallery 13, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa

About CACL

CACL Inc. is a company based in Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture, a region famous for Kutani ware. It addresses two interconnected issues: the shortage of successors in traditional crafts and the limited, low-wage employment options for people with disabilities. CACL develops businesses to solve these challenges, having previously created art pieces and products by connecting ceramic fragments. Following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, the company launched the “Stand with NOTO” project as part of its recovery support efforts. This included setting up temporary studios and creating job opportunities for Wajima lacquerware artisans. They also initiated the “Rediscover project,” an evolved art project that incorporates fragments of Suzu ware and Wajima lacquerware techniques into Kutani ware ceramic fragments. Through this project, they created artworks from ceramic fragments damaged in the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, which were exhibited at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa in “DANCING WITH ALL: The Ecology of Empathy.” In July of this year, they established “KAKERA” as an experimental brand to re-define the new value of traditional crafts and non-standard items that might otherwise be discarded, focusing on the exploration and creation of products and materials using ceramic fragments. They have collaborated with Parfum Givenchy and have launched a joint project with LIXIL and Yuko Nagayama and Associates to pass on the traditional landscape of Noto to the future.

Company Overview

Company Name: CACL Inc.
Official Website: https://cacl.jp/
Address: 56 Tatsunokuchi-machi Ri, Nomi-shi, Ishikawa 923-1245
Representative: Junichi Okuyama
Established: June 1, 2023
Tel: (+81) 761-48-8004