Mariko Kusumoto

"My father is a Buddhist priest, and I grew up in a temple that was founded four hundred years ago. While living in the temple, I took the place for granted and didn't think anything special of it. However, the more time that I spend living in the United States,with its diverse cultures and varied ethnic groups, the more conscious I become of my identity as a Japanese. As the yearning for my temple grows, I gain a greater sense of appreciation of it, as well as of Japanese culture in general. As time goes by, my memories become stronger and more vivid. This feeling is the inspiration of my artwork today.

In my metal work I often use brass, which is similar to the colors of the ornaments in my temple. In order to suggest darkness and age, I use several different kinds of patinas. As I create space and composition in the box, I think about where the found objects fit and how they interact with each other. I am always interested in making interactive pieces for the viewer's participation. Within the relatively small size of my works, I am striving to create a world of shadows, light, silence, spirituality, and my personal memories." - Mariko Kusumoto