Okimono or sculpture in the form of a stylized kangaroo, sitting up and looking to its side. Of cast and patinated hakudo or white bronze. Signed on the back just above the tail with a chiseled signature by the artist: Kado (Sugita Kado, the go or art name of Sugita Seiji; Meiji 19 – Showa 30, or 1886 – 1955). Showa 4 or 1929.

With a new, Japanese paulownia wood (Japanese grown, Paulownia tomentosa) storage box.

This kangaroo sculpture was made for exhibition in Showa 4 or 1929 at the 4th Nihon Kogei Bijitsu Kai Ten (4th Japan Art Craft Association Exhibition). It was later shown at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo in 1983 for its exhibition titled: Modernism and Craftsmen: The 1920s to the 1930s (and illustrated in the catalogue for the exhibition, referenced below).

Born in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Sugita entered Waseda University in Tokyo to study business. After dropping out of this curriculum, he entered the Tokyo Fine Arts School (now the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts & Music) to study in the metal casting department, graduating in Meiji 45 or 1912.

His graduation work, a cast iron rotating, globe-like incense burner combines traditional Japanese Buddhist iconography such as a flame shaped structure with a dragon, the gods of wind and thunder, and the descent of Amitabha with Western imagery such as the winged horse Pegasus. C.F. the catalogue Selected Masterpieces from the University Art Museum, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music: Grand Opening Exhibition, number 76, pages 184 – 185.

In Taisho 2 or 1913, Sugita took a teaching position at the Kagawa Prefectural School of Industrial Arts. In 1919, he began serving as assistant professor at the Tokyo Arts School, where he lectured until 1942.

In 1914, Sugita won an honorable mention for his entry at the Taisho Hakurankai national exhibition.

In 1918, Sugita participated in the founding of the Kinjin-kai art group and won a prize at the nationally sponsored Noten craft exhibition.

At the 5th Noten his entry received an honorable mention, and he exhibit at this venue, receiving a 2nd Prize at the 7th Noten; a 3rd Prize at the 8th and 9th Noten; then a 2nd Prize at the 10th Noten.

In 1922, at the Heiwa Kinen Tokyo Hakurankai (the Tokyo Commemorative Peace Exhibition), his entry won a Silver Prize.

In 1925, Sugita was included in the Japanese contingent of artists led by Tsuda Shinobu exhibiting at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris (Exposition internationale des Arts décoratifs et industriels modernes). His exhibition work took a Silver Prize. Sugita also served as a Judge at the exhibition.

After returning to Japan from Paris, a study group focused on European crafts was formed by members of the exhibiting artists, including Tsuda Shinobu, Takamura Toyochika, Yamamoto Azumi, and Sugita Kado. These artists were searching for a new path for craft arts.

In 1925, a casual gathering led to the 1926, formal foundation of the Mūkei (or Formless) art group. Sugita was one of the 21 founding members. The young artists followed Tsuda’s lead and aimed to articulate new forms of expression and design echoing modern, industrial life. These revolutionary artists turned their back on the ‘status quo,’ on traditional Japanese crafts, striving for a fresh new vision for the future. One ideal they repeated was ‘Jitsuyo’ or ‘Beauty Given to Utility.’

After the Imperially sponsored Teiten art exhibitions admitted craft artists into the 8th Teiten in 1927, Sugita was among the first to exhibit. He continued to show his work at the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 14th Teiten exhibitions from 1928 – 1931, and in 1933. In 1936, he participated in the spring Kaiso Teiten as well as the autumn Bunten Kansaten. Then when the exhibitions were reorganized, he returned to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Shin-Bunten in 1938 – 1939; and in 1941 – 1943. He showed at the 1940 Hoshukuten, and at the 1944 Senji Tokubetsuten (the War Exhibition).

After the Pacific War, when the Nitten replaced the imperially sponsored prewar exhibitions, Sugita Kado again participated. He showed at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th Nitten, from 1946 – 1955.

Sugita Kado died at the age of 69 on July 29th, 1955.

For other examples of his work, c.f. the Tokyo Museum of Modern Art catalogue, Modernism and Craftsmen: the 1920's to the 1930's, pages 62 - 68, numbers 37 - 43.

Number 40 in that catalogue illustrates this same kangaroo sculpture.