HAIRART Hanshin College of Beauty Director Hair Media Producer
MAYUMI HANDA
Graduated from Kwansei Gakuin University, Faculty of Law, in 1986, Ms. Handa is the director of HAIRART Hanshin College of Beauty, which celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. She is devoted to promoting hair as a medium for artistic expression. Her sphere of action spans the globe. In Japan she has taught a course at Kyoto University of Education–The Theory of Nonverbal Communication–and overseas has presented as a speaker at international symposia in China, Europe, and elsewhere.
Ms. Handa was the first to use hair as contemporary art and soon became recognized internationally. She has exhibited in Tokyo, Milan, and Paris. Her pioneering efforts in the field are unconstrained by conventions, and her dynamic efforts have won strong support among hairstylists in Japan and abroad. In addition to being a hair media producer, Ms. Handa is also an active lecturer, writer, and contemporary artist whose works have received acclaim both in Japan and abroad.
Ms. Handa currently writes a Japanese-language column for Hair Mode magazine, “Reading the Code of Hair.”
Book authored
- Marugari Funsenchu”（Tama Publishing）
Columns
- “Reading the Code of Hair” in Hair Mode magazine （Josei Mode Co., Ltd.）
- “Visuals to See, Visuals to Feel” in New Hair magazine （Salon Newsmagazine Corp.）
- 1962
- Born in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
- 1985
- Studied abroad at Stanford University, California
- 1986
- Graduated from Kwansei Gakuin University, Faculty of Law Department. Graduated from the Hanshin Hairdressing Academy (now HAIRART Hanshin College of Beauty).
- 1987
- Obtained license to practice hairdressing.
- 1988
- Won a “Japan-India Friendship Prize” from the India Chamber of Commerce for her English-language essay. Researched contemporary art under Shozo Shimamoto, Professor Emeritus at Kyoto University of Education. Presented a fusion of contemporary art and hairmaking at Gallery Art Space in Nishinomiya, Hyogo.
- 1991
- Won grand prize for “Hair Art,” her first-ever exhibit at the 16th AU Contemporary Art Exhibition of Japan at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. Worked as modern art coordinator for 1 year and 9 months for the Kansai TV program “Together.” Met the Native American Dennis Banks. Received instruction in “Indian hair.”
- 1992
- Presented “The Earth and Hair” at the 20th AU Contemporary Art Exhibition of Japan. Presented hair art at a New York City cathedral.
- 1993
- Presented “Hair Media Photos” at the 21st AU Contemporary Art Exhibition of Japan. Presented “Communication from Hair Salons” exhibit the Mail Art Museum of Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan. Lectured on hair media and hair art at the National University of Arts, in Bucharest, Romania. Presented a “HairArt Networking” exhibit at the Rauma Art Museum in Finland. Gave presentations on bridal costumes in Finland (Rauma, Turku, Forssa), France (Paris), Belgium (Liege), the Czech Republic (Prague), and Romania (National University of Arts).
- 1994
- Presented hair art in galleries in Finland (Helsinki) and Serbia (Belgrade).
- 1997-present
- Lost her father, the former director of the College as a result of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Accepted the directorship to carry on his work. She introduced the school brand name HAIRART to bring about a fusion of hair and art. She has organized a “virtual hair design contest” over the Internet, and continues to redefine hairdressing. Currently writes a Japanese-language column for Hair Mode magazine–”Reading the Code of Hair.”
