Aya town in Miyazaki prefecture is home to the largest evergreen forest in Japan. 120 years ago the Shimazu clan in Kagoshima developed a glass cutting technique known as “Satsuma Kiriko”. Inspired by this cultural legacy, Mr. Kuroki has created a completely new, modern style of cutting glass based on his experience of trying to restore the ancient technique. By drawing on the cultural spirit of Aya’s evergreen forest and developing this artwork he hopes to bring attention to the environmental issues facing the world. This is “Aya Kiriko”, the cut glass from Aya.
Aya Kiriko was born from the spirit of a rich wood culture. There is a vast difference between Edo and Satsuma Kiriko. The concept springs from a culture where “eternal” trees grew and lived for 1000 years or more. It was designed to incorporate the impressions of the foliage, the tree nuts, the flowers, and the buds. The colors express the warmth of wood and tree rings by making the ancient color amber the keynote. In addition, Mr. Kuroki developed a two layerflashed glass which covered purple, indigo or green glass with “amber” glass for the first time in the world. Now the cut glass from Aya continues to evolve and has successfully made three layered glasses exhibiting even more complex gradations and a delicate shine. The sharply carved surface radiates light in a manner reminiscent of sparkling diamonds.