This autumn, Kraffer Garden will host a residency by Japanese artist Saki Matsumoto, and you can be a part of it too. Saki will explore stories connected to the garden’s history, which will be further developed through workshops…
If you would like to contribute another piece to the story of the garden, which is a constant source of inspiration for us and our visitors, we would be delighted. Come visit us in the garden or email us at ahoj@krafferovazahrada.cz. Saki Matsumoto’s residency is another opportunity for us to learn something new about the garden, and we would appreciate your help in this regard.
We also invite you to the Create Your Own Garden Creature workshop, led by Saki in person, which is designed for children aged 3 to 6. It will include storytelling about the garden through traditional Japanese Kamishibai theater and collaborative work on creating new garden creatures and stories. The workshop will take place on Saturday, October 4, from 10 AM; entry is free, but due to limited capacity, advance registration is required.
The opening of Saki Matsumoto’s residency exhibition will take place in Kraffer Garden on Saturday, November 1, from 1:30 PM.
The exhibition will showcase the works of this Japanese artist, including those created during her residency in Kraffer Garden. It will also feature the results of workshops involving preschool children and students from the Vítězslav Novák Primary Art School. The exhibition is curated by Alena Kotyza and will run until November 16, 2025.
This event is part of the Magic Carpets project within the České Budějovice – European Capital of Culture 2028 program.
Saki Matsumoto is an artist working between Prague and Tokyo. Her work is diverse—encompassing original prints, graphic design, book illustration, ceramics, textile pattern designs, and painting. She draws inspiration from mythology, Japanese folklore, and Czech and Moravian folk traditions, which she imaginatively combines with natural motifs and her own imagination.
She studied graphic design at Kuwasawa Design College in Tokyo and later at Central Saint Martins in London. She furthered her education at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, specializing in illustration, graphic design, and animation.
She is a member of the Tokyo Illustrators Society, Adobe Stock Premium, and the Hollar Association of Czech Graphic Artists. Her work has earned her numerous awards in the Czech Republic, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, and China.
