Hashimoto begins by creating a large slab of clay, which is then shaped by hand. While the clay is in a semi-dry state, she uses about ten different tools to carve and apply decorations. In this exhibition, one can observe a shift in her carving technique, moving from the delicate and fragile style of the past to a more robust and bold approach. This transformation is evident in the way the pieces are carved, reflecting a new direction in her work.
Her previous works had a delicate, thorny quality, giving them a very fragile impression. However, in this exhibition, the works have become softer, with rounded forms that evoke a sense of warmth and generosity, like a mother lovingly watching over her child. Where there was once a single stem, there are now two or three, symbolizing her growth from a women to a mother, and her personal growth and changes in her surrounding environment. It is our hope that viewers will sense the breath of life and the possibilities for a new future that emanate from her works.
Machiko Hashimoto
Born in 1986 in Kyoto Prefecture. Graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at Kyoto Saga University of Arts Junior College in 2007, and from the Advanced Course in Fine Arts at the same university in 2009. In 2009, she was awarded the Advanced Course Prize at the 37th Kyoto Saga University of Arts Graduation Exhibition. She also received the Special Jury Prize at the 2nd Kobe Biennale Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition. She currently works in her studio in Fushimi, Kyoto, where she continues her artistic practice.