TOMOKO HOKYO 宝居智子

Tomoko Hokyo contemporary artist Born in Chiba, Japan Currently based in London, UK The work of Tomoko Hokyo consists of memories of various phenomena that exist in nature and people, reconstructed on one surface, creating a new flow of time. She uses abstract expression with regularity and geometric patterns that are common in the natural and human worlds, while blurring the visual distinctions of each. Through this method, she communicates that all life consists of cells, and that humans are a component of nature.

[tomokohokyo]

Exhibition Announcement

[Exhibition Announcement] I am pleased to announce that I will be presenting new works at The Other Art Fair, London, this October. I would be delighted if you could come and see my works in person.

The Other Art Fair London | 9 – 12 October 2025 Stand No. 133 The Truman Brewery, E1 6QR

■ Website & Ticket Reservation https://www.theotherartfair.com/london/

■ OPENING NIGHT Thursday, 9 October: 5 – 10 pm

■ GENERAL ENTRY Friday, 10 October: 4 – 10 pm Saturday, 11 October: 11 am – 7 pm Sunday, 12 October: 11 am – 6 pm

■ VENUE The Truman Brewery 7 Dray Walk London E1 6QR

Tomoko Hokyo | Stand No. 133

I produce pigments from materials found in my travels and everyday life, and incorporate them into works using the traditional craft of cloisonné enamel.

My practice explores time and memory, reconstructing them through craft.

[tomokohokyo]

Announcement of Magazine Feature

The October issue of the Japanese art magazine Bijutsu no Mado (Seikatsu no Tomo Sha), released today on the 20th, features a 5-page article including my method of making acrylic paints using seashells as well as an introduction to my works. I would be delighted if you could take a look. The magazine is also available on Amazon.

[tomokohokyo]

A vintage floral cup and saucer used as material

I crushed a floral teacup that was once used in everyday life to create pigment.

The "Moment" series is an attempt to reconnect and reconstruct memories of fleeting moments from the past by transforming once-utilized everyday objects into pigments and integrating them into artworks.

かつて日常の中で使われていた花柄のティーカップを粉砕して絵具を作りました。「Moment」シリーズは、かつて日常で用いられていた素材を粉砕し、絵具として取り込むことで、当時の“瞬間”の記憶を現在に繋ぎ再構築する試みです。

[tomokohokyo]

My artwork is featured in the 2026 Joshibi University brochure. My time at the university greatly influences my current practice. You can also view the brochure online.

2026年の女子美術大学・大学案内に作品を掲載していただきました。在学中の経験は、今の制作活動に大きく生かされています。大学案内はオンラインからもご覧いただけます。

[tomokohokyo]

I crushed blue mussel shells collected in Margate to make pigment. The result is a beautiful shade of purple. Natural purple pigments are rare in traditional Japanese painting, so this was such a delightful discovery. マーゲイトで採取したブルームール貝を粉砕して絵具を作りました。美しい紫色です。日本画の絵具で天然の紫色は少ないので嬉しい発見でした。

[tomokohokyo]

今年10月にロンドンで開催されるアートフェアへの出展が決定いたしました。 詳細は追ってお知らせいたします。 まずは皆さまに展示のご報告ができることを嬉しく思います。 引き続き、制作に励んでまいります。

I'm pleased to share that I will be exhibiting at an art fair in London this October. Further details will be announced soon. I'm truly grateful to share this news with you and will continue working hard on my creations.

[tomokohokyo]

Layered Moments_E_1 2025 New series: "Moment." Crushed everyday objects, once used in daily life, become pigments—reconstructing memories and layering time into each work.

[tomokohokyo]

 Flow of Volcanic Time – Iceland_E_1

This work uses volcanic pigment from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull eruption to connect geological memory with the present.

[tomokohokyo]

“Flow of Time – Shell Memory in Brighton” incorporates pigment made from crushed seashells gathered along the coast of Brighton, UK.

Title: Flow of Time – Shell Memory in Brighton_E_1

Year: 2025

Material: Cloisonné enamel (glass glaze on silver plate), crushed seashells collected from Brighton, calcite, acrylic medium, titanium white, acrylic (sides), cotton, aluminum.

[tomokohokyo]

I crushed some shells I collected in Brighton (probably slipper limpets) to make pigment. It looks like a soft pink color.

[tomokohokyo]

Flow of Time in Nasushiobara_E_1 Medium: Cloisonné enamel (glass glaze on silver plate), stones collected from the Naka River in Nasushiobara, Japan, calcite, acrylic medium, titanium white, acrylic (sides), cotton, aluminum. Year: 2025

The work “Flow of Time in Nasushiobara_E_1” incorporates green schist collected from the Naka River, which flows through Nasushiobara City in Tochigi Prefecture.

I love the nature of Nasu and often visit the area. It is a very important place for me. Nasushiobara is characterized by a natural landscape shaped by the Nasu volcanic zone, with mountains, valleys, lakes, waterfalls, and wetlands. The local people hold a deep respect for nature and take pride in the crops and blessings nurtured by the land. In recent years, more people have moved to the area, seeking its rich natural environment. These new residents also value their relationship with nature and the local community.

I crushed the collected stone into fine pigment and used it as a material in this work, physically embedding part of the landscape into the piece. The work incorporates cloisonné enamel, combining naturally derived materials with human handcraft. This process reconstructs the memory contained in each material and integrates layers of different time into a single work. Geological time and human time visually intersect within the piece, generating a new sense of temporal flow.

作品《Flow of Time in Nasushiobara_E_1》には、栃木県那須塩原市を流れる那珂川で採取した緑色片岩を使用しています。 私は那須の自然がとても好きで、これまでに何度も訪れています。那須は私にとって特別な場所です。那須塩原は那須火山帯に位置し、山や渓谷、湖、滝、湿原など、多様で豊かな自然が広がっています。地元の人々は、自然に深い敬意を抱き、この土地がもたらす作物や恵みを誇りに感じながら暮らしています。近年では、自然に魅かれて移り住む人も増えており、それぞれが自然や地域とのつながりを大切にしながら、新たなコミュニティを育んでいます。 私はこの土地で採取した石を細かく砕いて顔料とし、作品の素材として用いることで、風景の一部を物理的に作品に取り込んでいます。また、七宝焼も併せて用いることで、自然から得た素材と人の手仕事とを重ね合わせ、それぞれの物質が持つ記憶を再構成しました。異なる時間の層がひとつの作品の中で重なり合い、地質学的な時間と人間の時間とが視覚的に交差することで、新たな「時間の流れ」を作品に刻みました。

[tomokohokyo]

I made pigment using stones collected from Nakagawa River in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture. The color turned out to be a grayish green. I'm excited to use it in my artwork.

[tomokohokyo]

The Flow of Spring on the Thames

Material:

Silver cloisonné enamel, stones and brick fragments from the Thames River, calcite, titanium white, acrylic medium, aluminum

Year: 2025

[tomokohokyo]

I finished working on a large piece last week. Starting today, I’m moving on to my next artwork✤

[tomokohokyo]

Title: The Flow of Time in the Thames River

Materials: Stones and brick fragments from the Thames River, calcite, cloisonné enamel (silver plate, glass glaze), titanium white, acrylic medium, cotton, wooden panel

Size: 20.4 cm × 20.4 cm, depth 2.2 cm

Year: 2024

[tomokohokyo]

I received the photos from the exhibition I participated in last month from the Gerald Moore Gallery. I'm very grateful for the beautiful photography. I'm glad I could take part in it. Thank you to everyone at the gallery and to all the artists!

[tomokohokyo]

l baked a lot of cloisonne enamel pieces (七宝焼) for my artwork.