Kumie Tsuda orchestrates her installation with compounds of small elements, using ceramics as its material. In “Meteora” at the Tokyo Wonder Site Hongo in 2007, an installation was exhibited; a sculptural work that consisted of small fragments connected with each other, gathered around a symbolic form that resembled hardened lava on a pedestal made out of paraffin wax. The same material, ceramic revealed different aspects, such as multifaceted object that’s like an ore, or two legged creature with a head of a mushroom. On the wall-hung works that resembled tiles, strange geometric shapes and mysterious mountain that floated on the surface of water were painted. The isolated abbey on a precipice in Meteora in ancient Greece inspired the artist as an expression of a strong belief in the invisible. Although Kumie Tsuda’s motifs have concrete shapes, they do not come across as one narrative, but rather present the texture of the uncertainty of the relationship between us and the surrounding world, just as uncertain as it really is. Tsuda has stated that she occasionally produces works with her dreams in her mind. From Tsuda’s works, a mysterious world seems to appear, as if it has been reconstructed from our own dreams. This exhibition features approximately 10 pieces, including her new sculptural works. Profile
Kumie Tsuda was born in 1980 in Kanagawa prefecture. She graduated from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music majoring in sculpture in 2003. In 2005 she finished the post graduate course in sculpture, and was on research student program until 2006. She was included as one of the ten young artists in the group show in 2007, “INDEX #3”, curated by Kentaro Ichihara. The show traveled to 3 sites; art project room ARTZONE, an art gallery of Kyoto University to Art and Design, shin-bi, an art gallery of Kyoto Seika University, and Tokyo Wonder Site Hongo. Last year, Tsuda exhibited at Daikokuya, Itamuro-onsen in Nasushiobara, Tochigi. This is the second exhibition at Tomio Koyama Gallery after last year. * The text was provided by Tomio Koyama Gallery.