Yohko Toda

Born in Nara Prefecture, currently residing in Kyoto, I believe the most beautiful and sacred moment of urushi lacquer is when it is still in its liquid form and being applied.

The beauty revealed by urushi, which has accompanied human spirits since ancient times, is profoundly rich. Sometimes, I feel poignant, ecstatic, thrilled, amazed, struck in the head, choked in my chest, on the verge of collapse, and even moved to tears. My body is engulfed in the whirlpool of emotions, a sensation of pleasure.

I want to convey the living essence of urushi to as many people as possible, so I have dedicated myself to serving urushi. My expression encompasses three-dimensionality, two-dimensionality, space, time, and concepts, embracing multifaceted dimensions.