mariko tsuchiyama Exhibition / Photographed by Keiko Nomura

Mariko Tsuchiyama Exhibition
Photographed by Keiko Nomura

Dates: July 13th (Sat) - July 21st ( Sun), 2024
Venue: MIN GALLERY
Address: 2F, 3-5-6 Takaban, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-0004
Business hours: 12:00 - 18:00 (*17:00 on the last day)
Closed: Tuesdays (July 16th)

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⚫Artist in attendance
July 13, 2024 (Sat) 13:00  - 18:00
Sunday, July 14, 2024 13:00  - 16:00

⚫Opening reception
July 13, 2024 (Sat) 13:00 - 18:00
We will be holding an opening reception with jewelry artist Mariko Tsuchiyama . Anyone is welcome to attend.

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MIN GALLERY will be hosting jewelry artist Mariko Tsuchiyama's third solo exhibition.

Since 2016, Mariko Tsuchiyama has been developing a collection that is conscious of the stories of the natural world, with the theme of "A Reflection At Sea." Pearls, which are the core of her designs, convey the eternal brilliance of nature, and we are also fascinated by their beauty.

This exhibition will feature the artist's latest works, inspired by the movements of dancers' bodies. The undulating metal and swaying pearls, and the varying speeds of the strings they weave, are a new approach driven by the artist's passion to capture the beauty of the moment a dancer emits and leave a tangible impression of that fleeting moment.

The venue will also feature photographs by photographer Keiko Nomura capturing Mariko Tsuchiyama's unique worldview. This is the first collaboration between the two artists, and we hope you will take this opportunity to view them.

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PROFILE
Mariko Tsuchiyama / Jewelry Designer
Born in Nagasaki Prefecture. After graduating from university, she moved to Tokyo and worked in the fashion industry, but her desire to work in a more creative field led her to move to the UK. She studied the basics of jewellery at a design school in London, and then lived in Hong Kong and Paris before launching her own brand in 2016.

A contemporary jewelry brand that combines innovative designs using high-quality pearls, a finish that retains the warmth of handcrafting, and pearls sourced responsibly from all over the world. Her designs appeal to people of all ages, genders, and nationalities, from all backgrounds.

She currently has a studio in the seaside city of Brighton, England, where the coastline that can be seen from her studio is a major source of inspiration for her work.

Keiko NOMURA / Photographer
Born in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. After graduating from a photography school, he moved to the United States and studied photography in Santa Fe, LA. In 1999, he released the Okinawa-themed photo collection "DEEP SOUTH." He won the Newcomer's Award from the Photographic Society of Japan and the Higashikawa Newcomer's Award. He has been involved in many publications, including magazines, such as the photo collection "Monthly Mitsushima Hikari," in which he took photos of actresses.

In 2019, he won the Hayashi Tadahiko Photography Award for his photobook "Otari-Pristine Peaks: Garden of Mountain Spirits." He has held numerous solo and group exhibitions both in Japan and overseas. He is currently based in Okinawa.

Comments on the exhibition "Mariko Tsuchiyama" by Keiko Nomura

Mariko has been a personal friend of mine for many years and has also collaborated with me as a model for my photographic works.

This opportunity led to my first collaboration with the jewelry she created, and these photographs were taken in the early summer light of the southern island where I am currently based, a place that is familiar to me.

Her jewelry caught the light pouring down from the clear southern sky and reflected off the sea, and its sparkle had a strong presence while still blending into the rich natural scenery.

The model for this project is a female tattoo artist from Okinawa who has been a model for my work for many years. She wears art tattoos on her skin and lives her life with her own unique sensibility at the core. Mariko Tsuchiyama's jewelry fits her perfectly, and I felt that it has the power to bring out the inner strength and beauty of the person who wears it.

The pearls nurtured by the ocean once again encounter the energy of nature and the individuality of the person wearing them. Through the lens, I could sense the sparkle that seems to have been created by this mutual encounter.

We are truly grateful for the opportunity to exhibit her jewelry works here, as well as to showcase their appeal in photographs.

Summer 2024 Keiko Nomura