Artist Conversation #5

Artist: Kiyomi Fukui

Exhibition: Apologetic Garden

Media: Fiber arts, printmaking, graphic design

Website: http://www.kiyomifukui.com

Instagram: Kiyomimiz

Kiyomi Fukui is an artist who earned her MFA in printmaking at CSULB and her BFA in graphic design from La Sierra University. She has many exhibitions located at different universities and art galleries. Her main interest when creating her work is capture transient intimacy, irrespective of media, according to her website.

Kiyomi showed us her origami piece, and the form she chose was 1000 cranes. Her cranes had crisp folded lines, and the color of the paper she used looked either white or off white. All her folds are straight and the cranes were on the smaller size. It does have an affect on the viewer and the piece when all the cranes are lined up in a row.

When listening to Kiyomi, she explained that the repetition of folding cranes is representing the act of giving a prayer. She said that her and her dad doesn’t have the best relationship but they are working on it. The act of giving a prayer comes from her hoping they can start to understand each other. She also uses art practice as a therapy and it helps her process a lot of her emotions and feelings.

I really enjoyed listening to Kiyomi Fukui speak about her work. I liked how she told us personal stories and how she ties it into her art. It makes it seem like she is very passionate about it and puts a lot of heart and soul into what she creates. If I ever have a chance to visit one of her exhibits, I would definitely take the opportunity.