Cutting Insights

Leaving Nippori St. and passing some gravestones in a cemetery and temples, I took to the street with traditional houses. And a few minutes’ walk took me to the gallery SCAI THE BATHHOUSE, where “Cutting Insights”, the first exhibition of Tomoko Shioyasu, was showed through 29th to 27th August. Feeling Zen-like atmosphere, I passed through the gate, and I found a kind of enlightenment ready and waiting.

Born in 1981, Tomoko Shioyasu has been creating wide variety of impressive works by repetition of minute handwork, which reflects her natural-views. Although the base of her works is a litany of repeated patterns, they have no mechanical coldness. In the process of creating, she becomes fully integrated with the rhythm of continuous nature, capturing the brief moment of it in awe.

The back space of the gallery features the huge installation “Cutting Insights”. On a special paper six meters tall, she makes many fine cuts to make a streamline pattern, which reflects the moment of any natural saltation full of the breath. Stood in the spotlight, the shadow of the pattern up to the ceiling was reflected on the back white board. Each particle of light passing through many cuts, the contrast between white and gray make scenery, like many small planets in the universe. This work includes the greatness of nature, and the generality of the universe.

© Tomoko Shioyasu courtesy of SCAI THE BATHHOSUE / Photo: Keizo Kioku

When we face the sign of the presence of nature with cutting insights, we realize that we are a part of gravity circulation of nature. However, it goads us in our view of nature into experiencing the magnitude and beauty of it.

On my way home, looking down on a fallen leave on the street, its leaf vein looked shapely-outlined. And looking around on the spot, trees and particles of light looked revitalized. This may be the dynamics of nature that once interested her and have been the basis of her works.

Tomoko Shioyasu Exhibition “Cutting Insights”
Date: August 29th – September 27th, 2008
Place: SCAI THE BATHHOUSE
Address: Kashiwayu-Ato, 6-1-23 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3821-1144
https://www.scaithebathhouse.com

Text: Tatsuhiko Akutsu