Nakashima Yasushi

Nakashima Yasushi (1938-2017) was born in Hyogo prefecture and graduated the Kyoto Municipal University of Art in 1962. While still at university he was accepted into the Mainichi Kogyo Design exhibition. He began his career as a designer for Hino Automotive, in charge of their top model the Contessa. However disastisfied with the opportunities there he moved to Nisshin Denki where he headed up the lighting design department. He left Nisshin in 1974, and began his own career as an independent artist, focused on the plastic arts of glass and ceramic while maintaining his contacts in the design world. With his past in lighting, he was innovative in creating works which combined glass, pottery, metal and electric lights. This did not deter him from consulting in other areas of design, and he was awarded at the National Catalog and Poster Exhibition in 1978 (全国カタログ・ポスター展). Although he would remain unaffiliated, a difficult place to be in group conscious Japan, he would be accepted into many of the National exhibions including the National Traditional Crafts Exhibition (日本伝統工芸展) and awarded at a number of important events, including the National Craft Exhibition (日本クラフト展1986), National Modern Ceramic Sculpture Exhibtion (日本現代陶彫展1990) and the Shigaraki Ceramics Exhibition in 1999(信楽陶芸展). One monumental work stands in the park in Toki City, Gifu prefecture