A graduate of the Ecole du Louvre and holder of a doctorate from Paris IV Sorbonne, Laure Schwartz-Arenales began her career at the Musée national des Arts asiatiques-Guimet and at the Ecole du Louvre, where she taught Far Eastern arts. Her research on ancient Japanese painting, carried out since 1998 in Japan (University of Tōhoku - Kyōto National Museum), was rewarded in 2007 by the Kajima Foundation for the Arts. Professor at Ochanomizu University and then at Sophia University (Tōkyō), she has been director of the Baur Foundation, Museum of Far Eastern Arts in Geneva since 2018.

Currently curator of the decorative arts collection at Fondation Gandur pour l'Art (Geneva), Fabienne Fravalo has a PhD in art history from the University of Neuchâtel and Clermont Ferrant. Studies and research at the INHA (Paris) and is also the author of a monograph on the ceramist Emile Decoeur, published in collaboration with the Galerie Michel Giraud, Paris.

Philippe Boudin directs with his daughter Zoé Niang the Mingei Gallery right in the heart of Saint Germain-des-Près. This gallery specializes in the art of Japanese bamboo basketry, of which it holds the leadearship in Europe. His gallery organizes numerous thematic exhibitions and actively collaborates with museums and advises private collectors.

Maezaki Shinya is a specialist in Japanese design and interior design. After earning a PhD in 2009 from the School of Oriental and African Studies SOAS at the University of London, he has been an associate professor at Kyoto Women's University since 2015. He has published numerous works concerning Japanese interior design from the twentieth to the twenty-first century.

Tanabe Chikuunsai IV is the heir to a dynasty of bamboo masters in Kansai. His go (artist's name) "Chikuunsai" means "bamboo cloud". His international status gives him a prominent place in the field of this art form which is still unknown in Europe. His works can now be found in the world's most important museums.

6 In Praise of Light Pierre Soulages and Tanabe Chikuunsai IV 7 Éloge de la lumière Pierre Soulages et Tanabe Chikuunsai IV LAURE SCHWARTZ-ARENALES 24 A Container of Light. Soulages, from Japan to Sèvres... 25 Contenir la lumière. Soulages, du Japon à Sèvres… FABIENNE FRAVALO 32 Weaving the Void. The Art of Bamboo in Japan 33 Tresser le vide. L’art du bambou au Japon PHILIPPE BOUDIN 36 “The Perfect Cycle”, the Light and Shadow of Bamboo – Tanabe Chikuunsai IV 37 « Le cycle parfait », la lumière et l’ombre du bambou – Tanabe Chikuunsai IV SHINYA MAEZAKI 48 In View of the Luminous Blacks 49 En regard des noirs lumière... TANABE CHIKUUNSAI IV 94 Acknowledgements 95 Remerciements