Hideta Kitazawa, a second-generation woodcarving artist from Tokyo, gave a lecture and demonstration on the artistry of noh masks at Rice University April 2.
Noh masks are the most iconic elements of Japan’s oldest dramatic art, continuously performed since the 14th century. Kitazawa began creating noh masks in 1993 under the guidance of master artisan Michihiko Ito.
His traditional and contemporary noh and kyogen (farce) masks have been exhibited and used in performance in Japan, Singapore, China, Ireland, France, England and the United States.
The presentation came on the occasion of Kitazawa’s delivery of two masks produced for Rice’s Fondren Library.
This event was made possible by the Chao Center for Asian Studies within the School of Humanities.
