TOMOKO HOKYO

Tomoko Hokyo
contemporary artist
1984: Born in Chiba, JP
2007: Graduated with a BA in Fine Arts Majoring in Japanese Painting, Joshibi
University of Art and Design
Currently based in London, UK

The work of Tomoko Hokyo consists of memories of various phenomena that exist in nature and people, reconstructed on one surface, creating a new flow of time. She uses abstract expression with regularity and geometric patterns that are common in the natural and human worlds, while blurring the visual distinctions of each. Through this method, she communicates that all life consists of cells, and that humans are a component of nature.

Each material on earth has roots that extend from its genesis to the present. Stones, for instance, have the memories of diverse materials, from magma being cooled and crystalized, to sand and shells accumulating to form a rock. Humans have their own roots, too. Hokyo incorporates the cultural conception of time that humans have moved and developed, as memories of materials. This is apparent in the way that the history of metal and glasswork and her own roots are projected in the Cloisonné enamel she employs.
Hokyo’s abstract expressions are influenced by the regularity seen in the natural world, such as crystalline structures or bee hives. These patterns are overlapped with human movements to reveal similarities between nature and ancient times. In particular, for her, early cultural expressions, such as the Lascaux cave paintings and Japanese earthenware, evoke a means of connection between humans and nature. Hokyo incorporates the repetitive motions of handicraft work, painting, dancing, and so on in her art, repeating her motions many times through her production to achieve a depiction of traces of human time, akin to the beautiful embroidery left by our forebears.

[Material and Research]
Hokyo’s research ranges from plants and minerals that are familiar to her in daily life
to icebergs and the aurora, and to historic landmarks. She oscillates between the
micro and the macro while observing these things to experience the flow of time for
both nature and humanity, and reflects on her thoughts related to them.
In order to pursue research on materials, Hokyo learned traditional Japanese painting skills and techniques to powder natural minerals and create paints. This experience is well utilized in her current production process. While she continues her research on materials and methods, retaining a sense of the importance of traditional approaches, she also aims to open new potentials. She did not only research paint as a material, but also learned how to work in Cloisonné enamel from traditional craftsmen – a part of her intention to absorb the flow of human culture in her work.
Hokyo will continue to collect materials from diverse countries and regions, and
through her research into their historical context, produce work.