Kaori Homma

Biography
Born in Japan, Kaori studied BA and Post graduate Fine Art at Tokyo University of Arts and Design, and received an MA in Sculpture at Chelsea School of Arts 1988. Now based in London she exhibits both in UK and abroad. Kaori Homma's art contains a wide range of traditions, practices, and ideas inherent in the art history of both East and West.

Statement
It would be a lie, if I said the reason I have used the papermaking process more than any other mediums in my works, had nothing to do with paper’s natural tactile seductiveness, or the time consuming process which provides meditative time and space for contemplation. It would be equally untrue if I said that I am not interested in paper’s cultural bias towards the East and Femininity. I have certainly considered these tendencies of paper to be rather challenging, controversial and worthy for exploration. It is precisely for these reasons I have persevered with this medium for so long, despite obvious disadvantages in it not being recognised as a part of the mainstream practice in contemporary art.

My latest experimentation has been to explore this notion of transience linked with paper. In order to explore it fully, I am putting my work through two stages during its existence. Initially the traditional Japanese Papermaking process is employed to cast structurally stable and durable objects which at the same time retain the notion of fragility. The next step is to undo this making process.

By burning the objects, I am exploring the problems and questions of annihilation. My work is not an expression of formulated thoughts but I have some understanding that it is a means to unearth hidden thoughts of both the artist and of the audience, and therefore it remains a question.

“Why does it matter?
If Life doesn’t last, Art doesn’t last?”