Nasu Isao: I Stand Here

I Stand Here

Delivery: 3-4 weeks

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Materials: Amethyst, Acrylic, Maki-e Lacquer, Raden (Mother-of-Pearl), Silver (SV), Kumihimo Cord
Pendant: 7.5 × 3.5 cm
Necklace Length: 42 cm

I Stand Here captures the quiet yet profound moment in which determination takes form. The accompanying poem speaks of one who bears the weight of gravity by choice, whose gaze moves between memory and aspiration until the eyes of the dragon awaken once more. The light within those eyes—tempered through discipline, labor, and time—returns with renewed clarity. Smiling with the innocence of a beginner while carrying the strength forged through experience, the voice concludes with a simple declaration: "Now, I stand here."

Encased within a luminous teardrop form, the composition evokes both a vessel and a fragment of memory suspended in time. Layers of transparent acrylic create a sense of depth in which a dragon gradually emerges, while maki-e lacquer and raden lend the surface a quiet radiance that shifts with changing light. At its heart, amethyst introduces a contemplative presence, long associated with clarity, balance, and spiritual awareness. Rather than illustrating the dragon as a mythical creature alone, Nasu presents it as a symbol of awakened purpose—the enduring spirit that rises after reflection and embraces the present with unwavering conviction.

Suspended from a handwoven kumihimo cord, I Stand Here transcends conventional adornment. Conceived as a wearable work of art, it invites the wearer to recognize that every journey of transformation ultimately converges in a single moment: the decision to stand firmly where one is, carrying both the memories of the past and the possibilities of the future.

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.