Aico Tsumori

Aico Tsumori began working with ceramics at Kyoto City University of Arts, where she discovered that the medium allowed her to explore both two-dimensional and three-dimensional art forms. After graduating in 2002, she joined the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park residency and has continued creating in Shigaraki ever since.

Since 2015, Tsumori has expanded her international presence, exhibiting in solo and group shows across Tokyo, the United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea. This broader exposure has provided her with a sense of greater creative freedom, as she engages with diverse interpretations of her work. Tsumori has received several awards, including the Shiga Prefectural Art Award in 2018 and second prize at the Kikuchi Biennale in both 2015 and 2017.

“People feel special emotions toward objects that resemble human forms. As a child, I was scared of a doll that sat in the corner of my room, but I pretended not to be afraid because I didn’t want the doll to know I was scared. The strange and complex emotions that arise from such situations fascinate me, which is why I continue to create works with faces.

In the past, my works often referenced ancient sculptures, Buddhist statues, and fairy tales. However, since 2019, I’ve been influenced by my daughter’s drawings, which inspired my “Ceramics from Children’s Drawings” series. This has led me to reference new and different images in my work.

When I create my pieces, they are solely mine, but once they are completed, they are handed over to the viewer. The viewer’s experiences and interpretations add to the work, perhaps even filling in things that are not explicitly depicted, resulting in new stories. I want to create as if I am painting a picture.”

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