Nasu Isao: Ascending Celestial Dragon

Ascending Celestial Dragon

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Materials: Amber, Maki-e Lacquer, Raden (Mother-of-Pearl), Blue Moonstone, 18K Gold, Kumihimo Cord (Dragon Scale Weave)
Pendant: 10.0 × 2.7 cm
Necklace Length: 50 cm (Adjustable Slide Necklace)

Ascending Celestial Dragon celebrates the moment when earthly existence is transformed into spiritual fulfillment. The accompanying poem describes a dragon responding to the eternal rhythms of heaven and earth, rising from the water's surface toward the full moon. Bathed in its luminous radiance, the dragon leaves behind a trail of pale blue light across the night sky. It is said that those fortunate enough to witness this sacred ascent awaken the hidden gateway within themselves and discover the greater purpose entrusted to their lives.

Encased within a luminous form of amber, the dragon appears suspended between earth and sky, as though preserved in a timeless moment of transformation. The warmth and translucence of the amber evoke both ancient memory and living light, while the exquisitely executed maki-e and raden create a rich visual tapestry in which myth and nature become inseparable. A single blue moonstone crowns the composition, its ethereal glow recalling the moon that guides the dragon's ascent and symbolizing intuition, spiritual awakening, and inner illumination.

Rather than portraying the dragon solely as a legendary creature, Nasu presents it as an enduring emblem of human aspiration. The ascent toward the moon becomes a metaphor for the lifelong pursuit of one's true calling, where perseverance, courage, and inner faith ultimately converge in fulfillment.

Suspended from a handwoven kumihimo necklace in a distinctive dragon-scale weave, Ascending Celestial Dragon transcends conventional adornment. Conceived as a wearable work of art, it invites the wearer to contemplate the quiet moment when hidden potential is awakened, and one's deepest purpose begins to unfold.

Artist’s Profile

Isao Nasu is a Japanese artist whose wearable works draw upon gemstones, mythology, and the Japanese spiritual tradition to explore themes of prayer, memory, and inner transformation. Born in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, Nasu was captivated by the luminous beauty of crystals from an early age, an encounter that sparked a lifelong fascination with the world of gemstones.

While still a student, a chance meeting with the owner of an opal mine inspired him to pursue a career in gemology. His quest to discover the world's treasures took him to more than forty countries. To finance his studies at a gemological institute in New York, he established a trading company in Morocco, an experience that further broadened his perspective on culture, craftsmanship, and the global exchange of precious materials.

After returning to Japan, Nasu worked for jewelry manufacturers and wholesalers before establishing his own studio at the age of twenty-six. Alongside his practice as a jeweler, he has devoted himself to researching the origins of personal adornment across cultures, promoting Japanese culture, and producing environmental radio programs and magazines.

In 2009, Nasu made his debut as an exhibiting artist at the Hankyu Umeda Main Store Art Gallery, presenting works that express the Japanese sense of beauty through mythological themes. His work has since been exhibited both in Japan and internationally, including selection for the PHILLIPS Design Week Preview in New York in 2014.