Hiroko Masuko, born in Miyagi prefecture in 1982, received M.A. From Miyagi University of Education in 2008. Held a solo exhibition at Tokyo Wondersite Hongo in 2009. Won a prize at The 10th Gunma Biennale For Young Artists 2010. She is one of the most up-and-coming young artist in Japan.

She creates overwhelming spectacles on the subject of Bonsai with pen. Bonsai moves our heart with its shape and transformation. Also her paintings, as she says " seeds of Bonsai ", were achieved unexpected transformation into dynamic works like 《 Flying Bonsai 》 or 《 Bonsai Sword 》.

At "Bonsai Sword Legend", her solo exhibition in 2009, "Bonsai" acquired "sapiens" and walked out on her. She created new images over "Bonsai Pot", the void Bonsai left behind. In this exhibition, new about 20 paintings with pen and a few sculptures will be exhibited.

"One day, Bonsai got so-called "Intelligence" and walked out on me.
There was a vacant pot Bonsai left behind.
From then, I painted vacant bonsai again and again.
However, I wonder if I know genuine vacancy.
That is the reason why think vacant pots I painted is not vacant."
(Hiroko Masuko)

* The text provided by Gallery Jin Projects.

Opened dates: January 8 - 29, 2011
Venue: Gallery Jin Projects