I am a Persian–French artisan based in France, specialising in Chinkin engraving on Urushi lacquer.
I discovered Chinkin in 2018 and began exploring this rare and demanding craft independently, outside Japan and without formal mentorship. Through research, experimentation and sustained practice, I gradually developed my understanding of both Urushi lacquering and Chinkin engraving a process of learning that continues with every piece I create.
I was born and raised in Iran and moved to France at the age of 25. My birth name, Shokoufeh, means “blossom” in Persian and resonates with my artistic name, Sakura the Japanese cherry blossom. For me, these two names reflect the dialogue between cultures that naturally inhabits my work.
I work entirely freehand, without using the traditional Okimé transfer process. This allows each composition to emerge directly through gesture, observation and precision, creating an intimate connection between my hand, the material and the form.
My artistic language is shaped by my Persian and French background and by my deep respect for the Japanese origins of Chinkin. Through one-of-a-kind objects, I seek to explore new narratives and possibilities within this ancestral technique.
I consider Chinkin a path of patience and continual learning. Each creation is not only a finished object, but another step in my relationship with the craft.
