NASHVILLE, TN.- Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art hosts an exhibition of contemporary Japanese Bamboo Art this spring entitled Modern Twist. The exhibition opened March 22, kicking off with special programming and events inspired by bamboo art and the Japanese culture.

With rare wall-hung installations and pieces never before seen in the United States, Modern Twist brings 38 works by 17 of the most visionary bamboo artists to Cheekwood. Two of the featured artists hold the prestigious title of Living National Treasure, an honor awarded to only six bamboo artists since 1967. Katsushiro Sōhō’s Sunset Glow and Fujinuma Noboru’s Spring Tide and Gentle Heart exemplify this incredible level of skill and artistic ingenuity. Other artists represented include Matsumoto Hafū, Honma Hideaki, Ueno Masao, Uematsu Chikuyū, Nagakura Ken’ichi, Tanabe Chikuunsai III, Tanabe Yōta, Tanabe Shōchiku III, Tanioka Shigeo, Tanioka Aiko, Honda Shōryū, Mimura Chikuhō, Nakatomi Hajime, Sugiura Noriyoshi, and Yonezawa Jirō.

Modern Twist celebrates the art of making bamboo baskets, a quintessential part of Japanese culture and an expression of the country’s social, artistic, and spiritual landscape. While these baskets were traditionally used to hold flower arrangements, the medium has been elevated to art form status in the last century as awareness of the skill and artistry of its craftsmen has grown. As an artistic medium, bamboo is as challenging as it is abundant; mastering the art requires decades of meticulous practice learning how to harvest, split, and plait the bamboo. Fewer than 100 professional bamboo artists are working in Japan today.

“We’re honored to host Modern Twist at Cheekwood this spring,” said Jane MacLeod, President and CEO. “The activities we have planned in conjunction with this exhibition will enrich our visitors’ experience as they encounter, appreciate, and learn about the evolution of this revered art form. Making art and nature accessible to our community is at the core of our mission, and it’s a joy to deliver on that promise.”