Mizunara Bowl

Mizunara Bowl (1994, Mizunara oak)

See Mizunara Bowl at Kew Gardens, as part of the David Nash at Kew: A Natural Gallery exhibition.

Cutting Mizunara Bowl

Mizunara Bowl was made from the trunk of a mizunara or Japanese oak in northern Japan. The oak's lighter sapwood forms a natural edge to the bowl.

Mizunara Bowl in the snow

Nash describes himself as 'an all-weather artist', and that was certainly the case in the making of Mizunara Bowl, where he had to work in the snow!

Mizunara Bowl being carved

Nash says of Mizunara Bowl, 'The wood had been in a wood yard for many years – no one wanted it as it had big cracks in it, and nearly all the sapwood had rotted off. I was happy to get it though.'

Mizunara Bowl being carved

Many of Nash's sculptures explore our dependence on nature – and specifically wood – for basic survival tools and utensils. Mizunara Bowl is one such work.

Transporting Mizunara Bowl

Mizunara Bowl is made from a single piece of wood, the 'bowl' sitting on a 'table'.

Mizunara Bowl arrives at Kew Gardens

Nash describes the tipped-up form of the bowl as 'speaking outward' towards Throne in the centre of the Temperate House. He has placed this work as a greeting to the Temperate House exhibition.