{"id":4406,"date":"2025-11-05T00:39:25","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T15:39:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yukilaneige.jp\/?page_id=4406"},"modified":"2026-07-07T22:57:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T13:57:14","slug":"kokonofirenze2027","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/yukilaneige.jp\/en\/kokonofirenze2027\/","title":{"rendered":"The Road to Mr.Ko Kono\u2019s Florence Exhibition 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mr. Ko Kono creates wonderfully beautiful works in leather.
http:\/\/ko-kono.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

October 28, 2019 \u2014 Encounter and Dream<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By chance, when I guided the sculptor and member of the Academy of Fine Arts, Professor Valentino Moradei Gabbrielli, and his wife Monica, who were staying and creating in Uda-Matsuyama for an art event, to Gallery Muun in Mur\u014d, Nara, Mr. and Mrs. Ko Kono were holding their exhibition there. Professor Valentino Moradei Gabbrielli was especially impressed while looking at Mr. Kono\u2019s leather works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The artwork brought by
Professor Valentino Moradei Gabbrielli and the Buddha statue he created in Uda-Matsuyama at that time<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Professor Valentino Moradei Gabbrielliviewing Mr.Ko Kono\u2019s works with great interest <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Professor Valentino Moradei Gabbrielli and his wife Monica with Mr. Ko Kono<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Florence, Italy\u2014the very home of leather craftsmanship.
For a professional in the arts there to take such an interest!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From that moment, I began to dream of one day having the people of Florence see Mr. Kono’s works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 18, 2025 \u2014 Asking Mr. Ko Kono\u2019s Permission<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I felt the time had come. But I could not proceed alone. So, after visiting Mr.Kono\u2019s exhibition at the Kawano Residence in Izumi, I went to his Rasenkan<\/a> studio and asked whether I might move forward with this idea. To my delight, I learned that Florence was also a place of longing for him. I brought back with me a catalog of his works, which I would also use at La Neige when introducing his art, so it could be shared with people in Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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March 21, 2025 \u2014 Reaching Out to Professor Valentino Moradei Gabbrielli<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I decided to ask Professor Valentino Moradei Gabbrielli directly: \u201cDo you think it would be possible to exhibit Mr.Ko Kono\u2019s works\u2014the ones you saw in Mur\u014d six years ago\u2014in Florence, so that the people of Florence can see them?\u201d
If he had said, \u201cThat\u2019s impossible,\u201d I was ready to give up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that very day, he replied, \u201cI\u2019ll research it. Please send me some photos of the works.\u201d
So I sent photos by email, and mailed him the catalog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May 21, 2025 \u2014 Professor Valentino Moradei Gabbrielli\u2019s Research Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I thought he must be very busy, and after all, he was doing this voluntarily, so I wondered how it might turn out. Then\u2014what joy!\u2014he sent me detailed information, in both Italian and English, about two recommended venues for this purpose. I was moved to tears of gratitude.\ud83d\ude2d\u2764\ufe0f\ud83d\udc96<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first was the venue we ultimately hoped for:
La Sala delle Esposizioni dell\u2019Accademia delle Arti del Disegno<\/strong> \u2014 the exhibition hall owned by the Academy of Fine Arts<\/a>.

The second was:
La Societ\u00e0 delle Belle Arti, Circolo degli Artisti, \u201cCasa di Dante\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 the exhibition space at Dante\u2019s House<\/a>.

Both seemed wonderful; we would have to visit to truly understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

July 23, 2025 \u2014 Visiting the Two Candidate Venues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In July, although the Dante\u2019s House venue was closed for the vacation season, they kindly agreed to open it specially for us (again, I was overwhelmed with gratitude\ud83d\ude2d\u2764\ufe0f\ud83d\udc96).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On July 23, I was shown both venues. After returning to Japan, I reported to Mr. Kono and conveyed our wish to aim for October 2027 at La Sala delle Esposizioni dell\u2019Accademia delle Arti del Disegno<\/strong>, since preparations would require at least two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also expressed my hope that once the plan was confirmed, even though I have no prior experience organizing an exhibition abroad, with such a clear goal many people would surely come forward to support us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We would like to share a glimpse of the venue, the La Sala delle Esposizioni dell\u2019Accademia delle Arti del Disegno<\/em>.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n