100.  Machiko Hashimoto  橋本真知子

Machiko Hashimoto was born in Kyoto in 1986 and studied at Kyoto Saga University of Arts. She lives and works in Kyoto, where she has set up a small studio and kiln. She also makes functional work like tea bowls, but her fame came from her purely decorative and experimental floral sculptures that exude both serene tranquility and swirling movement. They are labor-intensive objects made in semi-porcelain and a single flower sculpture takes her two months to realize. Her works are fragile but also powerful and could be called a variation of the famous blue and white porcelain because of the beautiful hues of white and cobalt oxide, which both contrast and complement each other to form a swirling whole. She translates the tradition of blue and white porcelain into her own personal and highly modern language, it is more than emulating a traditional way of decoration. To her, blue symbolizes air and the natural movement of water, the food source of all aspects of life. In her work, this is reflected in series of flowers that open at various stages, from blossom to full bloom. These are not delicate flowers, however, but giant, idiosyncratic abstractions of flowers, with frayed edges that appear fragile but are not. The works invite the viewer to allow the shapes and lines of the carved porcelain and all the hues of the blue glaze to sink in, to let themselves be carried along, as it were, on the gentle swell of flowing water. In any case, Machiko Hashimoto hopes that such a bond will be created between her work and the viewer.  Her work is the subject of much interest, and she has several group and solo exhibitions to her credit. She also won awards such as the Excellence Award at the Graduation Works Exhibition, Kyoto City, Museum Jury's Special Award and her work was acquired by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, among others.