42. Kurokawa Tōru  黒川 徹

Kurokawa Tōru was born in Kyoto in 1984. He studied sculpture at Tsukuba University and then ceramics at Kyoto City University of Arts Graduate School, where he would also teach. In 2007, he won his first prize, the Choza Grand Prize for a 165-cm net-like work inspired by blue coral reefs. As a child, Kurokawa Tōru was fascinated by activities such as knitting and basket weaving because of those network-like constructions and the spaces that can be created by connecting the constructions. Connecting hexagons and circles repeatedly as small parts, for example, creates a single form, and this fascination with geometric shapes that enclose a space without mimicking a specific shape can be recognized in as his work. Although his works consist of compositions of geometric shapes, the execution is of great craftsmanship. His works are all modeled by hand and are formed by piling the clay from the bottom up and then fired in a traditional climbing kiln at exceptionally high temperature, giving the surface a with a sheen of black and smoky silver. Kurokawa Tōru's large geometric ceramic sculptures are unique and widely appreciated. Numerous key galleries and museums such as Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College have featured Kurokawa Toru's work in the past.

Valley of Sophie, 2014 - Joan B. Mirviss LTD