The Philosophy of Creation: Answering the Call of the Wood

"Some exhibitors create pieces specifically to appeal to the judges. That’s something I’ve never even considered.

At any given moment, I've always submitted what I wanted to express, without worrying about acceptance or rejection.

Every year when I exhibit at the craft exhibition, I have a strong desire to present a piece that can be called my signature piece for that year. I've exhibited in the main exhibition 41 times now, and I consider every single one of them to be a signature piece."

Easier said than done, of course. Creating a new design every year demands an immense well of ideas and daily inspiration. But for Miyamoto, he says the designs emerge from the materials themselves.

"These days, I don't go searching for good materials for a specific project I have in mind. Instead, it's a matter of whether I can see what I want to create among the wood at the lumberyard. It's only when I can interpret what the wood is trying to convey to me that I can begin to shape it into a piece of work."

Because woodcraft is a conversation with nature, he believes it’s crucial to listen to the material rather than imposing one’s own selfish desires upon it.