2021 | glass beads | fusing (author’s own technique), cutting | 17×24×24cm

On the Edge of Existence is the first work I created at Tokyo University of the Arts – and also the first time I used glass beads as a medium, which has since become central to my artistic practice. From the moment I encountered them, I felt they were the perfect material to convey my inner emotions. I immediately knew: this is my medium. This realization marked a turning point in my practice and opened the path that continues to shape my art today.

The series is built on the contrast between two approaches to glass: the tendency to control every stage of the creative process, and the openness to chance within it. I carefully prepared the forms, yet allowed the fusing process to transform the arrangement of beads inside the kiln. The result is shaped as much by accident as by intention.

At the same time, I wanted to challenge a prejudice I had often encountered – the belief that glass beads are suitable only for accessories, not for conceptual design or fine art.

photo: Shini’chi Ichikawa