In Celebration and Gratitude: Mihara and Takeyama Works Sold to the V&A

Needless to say, Collect 2008 was incredible. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I would like to sincerely thank each and every person who had helped us in making our debut participation at Collect such an astounding success.

We sold virtually all works that were put on display, and I believe this is fine testament not only to the calibre of art and artists we had chosen for the show, but also to the ever-growing potential for Japanese art throughout Europe.

The time is indeed ripe for the world to recognise the beauty made from Japanese hands and heart.

Deep gratitude is firstly and rightly sent to none other than our six exceptional artists who so graciously heeded our wishes and fulfilled our expectations by providing us with work that were nothing less than sublime.

Deep gratitude to all the staff at Collect, including the Craft Council, G&W and Stabilo, for helping us with the smooth operation of our stand.

Deep gratitude to the fine curators at the Victoria & Albert Museum, who chose two of our artists, Takeyama Naoki and Mihara Ken, to have the great honour of being acquired by the Museum for its Permanent Collection.
Well done to Takeyama-san and Mihara-san!

And lastly, I would like to thank each and every visitor who took the time to visit our stand and cherish the works that were exhibited. Your kind comments and eager enthusiasm for our art helped warm our hearts, making the toils of many months of preparation and hard work melt away like summer snow.

Kansha, kansha, kansha.

Wahei Aoyama 青山和平
Toku Art Limited


Hakutai by Takeyama Naoki
Permanent Collection
Victoria & Albert Museum


Kigen by Mihara Ken
Permanent Collection
Victoria & Albert Museum
(Apologies for the lack of a better image of this fine work)