Hattori Shunshō (Toshio, 1943–2018) was born in Kyoto’s Shimogyō Ward as the third son of textile merchant Hattori Shōtarō. Encouraged by a junior high school art teacher, he entered the lacquer arts program at Kyoto Municipal Hiyoshigaoka High School in 1958, studying under Mizunai Kyōhei and Hiraishi Akihiro. His graduation work Kajin (Beautiful Woman) received the Education Committee Award in 1961, the same year he joined Nakamura Design Studio while continuing his independent artistic practice.
From the early 1960s, his work was regularly accepted into major exhibitions including the Kyoten, Shin-Nitten, and Kyoto Craft Art Exhibition. He joined the contemporary lacquer research group Shugen-kai in 1964, studying under Banura Shōgo, and later apprenticed with Uehara Kiyoshi to master maki-e techniques. Recognition followed with the Excellence Award at the Kyoto Craft Art Exhibition in 1969 and the Mayor’s Prize at the Kyoten Exhibition in 1970.
In 1970, he co-founded Forme, an experimental collective of Kyoto lacquer artists that embraced new materials such as acrylic and cashew lacquer, reflecting the influence of postwar avant-garde movements and expanded global material access. His work continued to gain acclaim, including a Special Selection Award at the Nitten Exhibition in 1972. In 1975, he undertook overseas training in Europe and the United States, studying printmaking and etching in Sweden and France, experiences that further broadened his material and conceptual approach to contemporary lacquer art.
Hattori Shunsho EXHIBITION "Geometry" Digital Catalog
