T-Ko

Nitten Exhibited Japanese Wooden Sculpture,1946, Junzo. A large wooden sculpture displayed nationally in the fall of 1946 by Furukawa Junzo(1910-1997) titled T-ko no Zo and published on page 206 of the Nittenshi Vol.16. The image is carved from two blocks of wood joined together across the knees. A modern girl ( modern gyaru ) looks down at the long hem of her skirt, curly wrapped in scarf. At once charming and seductive, unlike a great deal of sculpture this piece speaks accord between the allied powers and Japan. The western influence in clothing and ahead to the long process of rebuilding in a land occupied by the American Military. And this apprehension is apparent in her stance, looking away , not yet ready to meet ones gaze. The image is slightly larger than life-size, roughly 70cm across at the base, 110cm tall. Although the joint in the wood is visible across her lap, it is stable and in excellent condition.

Furukawa Junzo, originally of Osaka, graduated the sculpture division of Tokyo University, Japans most prestigious public university. He was member of the Bunten and Nitten and consistently selected for display in the National Sculpture Exhibition, receiving the Governors prize in 1971. He was also a professor at the Tokyo University of Educational and later Kyoto Sangyo University.