Ema Tanigaki
biography |
portfolio | artists listing
b. 1968, Kanazawa, Japan
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2007 Beyond The Basket, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Hot Tea!, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Selected Works, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Bend-Twist-Wrap: Contemporary Work in Wire, Brookfield Craft Center,
Brookfield, CT
2004-06 Contemporary Baskets, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2004 Sculpture, Objects, Functional Arts Exposition, New York, NY
Show & Tell, Zimmer Children's Museum, Los Angeles, CA
2003 Glass Weekend, Wheaton Village, NJ
2001-05 Sculpture, Objects, Functional Arts Exposition, Chicago, IL
2001 Glass Weekend, Wheaton Village, NJ
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Ema Tanigaki has been assisting internationally known artist John Healey with his glass sculptures for the past 16 years. She has used her educational background in biophysics to help develop several new proprietary techniques using warm and cold glass processes. John and Ema formed their studio in 1997 and they have since collaborated with many renowned glass artists including Giles Bettison, Emily Brock, Chris Buzzini and Paul Stankard. They relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico from Buffalo, New York in late 1999. Ema has taken advantage of the new expansive location to start her own solo work in small sculpture, jewelry and basketry.
Although thoroughly versed in many methods of glass fabrication, the development of structures using fine wires has been the main focus of Ema’s work. She is pursuing the development of various methods of basketry using wire. In the past, Ema's work has evolved at a rapid rate; she debuts her first baskets in this exhibition.
Ironically, with her deep knowledge of the sciences and technology, her current work uses hand crochet, a very old and traditional technology. Since childhood, Ema has learned of many traditional handcraft practices, including decorative needlework, knitting, crochet, and the traditional Japanese crafts: kimekomi and origami. However the materials she uses are custom fabricated to tight dimensional tolerances and tempers; age-old techniques used in combination with modern materials.
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
I have recently made what may seem to be a radical switch from jewelry to basketry. However, from my point of view, it is just a resuming of the work I was exploring before a physical degeneracy forced me to sit on one place for a great part of each day. This was conducive to making jewelry, but I had other desires, visions and ideas I wanted to express. Now, with improved strength, healing and renewal, I am challenging myself to work on larger, more demanding pieces in the direction of basketry and sculpture. With increased physical activity has come inspiration to apply, without limitation, the knowledge and skill I have developed over many years. While I do plan to continue making jewelry, it is a joy to expand and make real those dormant dreams.
I am inspired by earthy imagery. Vegetative growth such as tendril, flower, fruit, seed connects my work with the traditional uses for baskets as they have been used daily in agricultural and domestic life over many millennia. Traditional bronze baskets are a very ancient mingei form (folk or literal translation: peoples art, in Japanese) and to me have always simultaneously evoked the primitive bronze age and the refinement of apprentice-based craftsmanship in the Far East. I also use patination techniques that are strongly associated with fine art sculpture to bridge the gap between folk art and fine art. I see my baskets as a contemporary manifestation of these age-old crafts.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2007 Beyond The Basket, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Hot Tea!, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Selected Works, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Bend-Twist-Wrap: Contemporary Work in Wire, Brookfield Craft Center,
Brookfield, CT
2004-06 Contemporary Baskets, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2004 Sculpture, Objects, Functional Arts Exposition, New York, NY
Show & Tell, Zimmer Children's Museum, Los Angeles, CA
2003 Glass Weekend, Wheaton Village, NJ
2001-05 Sculpture, Objects, Functional Arts Exposition, Chicago, IL
2001 Glass Weekend, Wheaton Village, NJ
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Ema Tanigaki has been assisting internationally known artist John Healey with his glass sculptures for the past 16 years. She has used her educational background in biophysics to help develop several new proprietary techniques using warm and cold glass processes. John and Ema formed their studio in 1997 and they have since collaborated with many renowned glass artists including Giles Bettison, Emily Brock, Chris Buzzini and Paul Stankard. They relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico from Buffalo, New York in late 1999. Ema has taken advantage of the new expansive location to start her own solo work in small sculpture, jewelry and basketry.
Although thoroughly versed in many methods of glass fabrication, the development of structures using fine wires has been the main focus of Ema’s work. She is pursuing the development of various methods of basketry using wire. In the past, Ema's work has evolved at a rapid rate; she debuts her first baskets in this exhibition.
Ironically, with her deep knowledge of the sciences and technology, her current work uses hand crochet, a very old and traditional technology. Since childhood, Ema has learned of many traditional handcraft practices, including decorative needlework, knitting, crochet, and the traditional Japanese crafts: kimekomi and origami. However the materials she uses are custom fabricated to tight dimensional tolerances and tempers; age-old techniques used in combination with modern materials.
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
I have recently made what may seem to be a radical switch from jewelry to basketry. However, from my point of view, it is just a resuming of the work I was exploring before a physical degeneracy forced me to sit on one place for a great part of each day. This was conducive to making jewelry, but I had other desires, visions and ideas I wanted to express. Now, with improved strength, healing and renewal, I am challenging myself to work on larger, more demanding pieces in the direction of basketry and sculpture. With increased physical activity has come inspiration to apply, without limitation, the knowledge and skill I have developed over many years. While I do plan to continue making jewelry, it is a joy to expand and make real those dormant dreams.
I am inspired by earthy imagery. Vegetative growth such as tendril, flower, fruit, seed connects my work with the traditional uses for baskets as they have been used daily in agricultural and domestic life over many millennia. Traditional bronze baskets are a very ancient mingei form (folk or literal translation: peoples art, in Japanese) and to me have always simultaneously evoked the primitive bronze age and the refinement of apprentice-based craftsmanship in the Far East. I also use patination techniques that are strongly associated with fine art sculpture to bridge the gap between folk art and fine art. I see my baskets as a contemporary manifestation of these age-old crafts.