Incinerator Art Space

Mariko Tamura: Sculptor & Jewellery Designer

“Art for me is to embody my consciousness and sensitivity.

A form has to be composed momentarily and instinctively, in order for me to free myself.

My creative activity originated in word sketches.

A form sprung up in me is nothing but the one and only existence of myself at the time.

Looking down on the expression of my philosophy and sensibility in an accomplished work brings me the enormous energy to live into the next stage.

It is my bliss in life to have had that sensibility.”

Mariko’s two sculptures exhibited were part of her series of work titled ‘Embody’. They are made of wire mesh, Japanese paper, Indian Ink & wood glue.

Hitomi Murai: Sculptor

“My perspective is that art represents a collaboration between artist and viewer. The artist brings an idea or vision and endeavours to express it tangibly. In the process, the artist is challenged and changed by the art which transforms into the artwork it is meant to be. 

At some point, people come to view the result of the artist’s efforts. But they are not spectators; rather, by interacting with the art, the people enliven it. Whether they seek to understand the piece or interpret it, touch the piece, or pose with it, their presence animates and even completes the artwork.” 

Hitomi’s work titled ‘And.. Something is Beginning’ is also part of a series. Her work exhibited in the Incinerator Art Space was created specifically with the glow and colours of Australia in mind. The images of her work demonstrated how in her exhibitions worldwide, viewers became involved in her work, enlivening it.

Naoe Okamoto: Sculptor & Designer

Naoe gave us insight into her work by recounting her background as a textile designer for car interiors at Nissan and her time living in England where she found inspiration in spring growth after long, cold and bleak winters. 

Her series of works HoHo  derive from revitalisation of plant matter, the movement and change from the seasons giving rise to “feet” on her sculptures – as if they were stepping out of the cold and into new growth and new beginnings.

Naoe has made a play on words with her HoHo titles even demonstrating that “Ho” in Japanese means ” Step”. So, HoHo  is step, step.. creating movement, change in beings and indicating growth from the earth and the careful steps taken along the way. 

At the gallery, Naoe exhibited HoHo V- a large bulbous form with “baby” feet creating a playful and likeable work made of hemp and wool meticulously stitched together. Her two smaller forms HoHo VI have wire “chicken – like” feet and are coloured green like new plant shoots. Together, with their “open-mouthed expressions” , they give life and character to their forms. These are also made of wire, hemp and wool. 

Naoe also designed a series of large tapestries, masterfully created from felting, spinning, dyeing and weaving to form irregular monumental hanging shapes, a relief capturing the colours and textures of the rugged and rainy landscape of Harris Island in Scotland.

Rieko Yashiro: Sculptor & Designer

Rieko impressed us all with images of her work as a stage designer for NHK – Japan’s national broadcaster (equivalent to our ABC broadcaster) and her sculptural works made independently using various materials such as paper and fabric. She has worked as a well established sculptor set designer with NHK for many years, prolifically creating artworks and producing many award winning works.

The sculptures Rieko exhibited were from her series titled “The Cycle of Reincarnation”. They were made of recycled cotton and wire. She explained her father owned a factory with machinery which manufactured towels. She noticed there was a lot of cotton waste product and decided to recycle this waste material in her sculpture creating a three dimensional work with angles and light and shadow.