Mariko Sumioka

Mariko Sumioka creates sculptural jewellery evocative of both the East and the West. Her inspiration is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and Zen principles. She is fascinated by traditional Japanese architecture: the natural materials and colours,dark and bright contrasts, linear forms, geometric shapes and spaces. At Edinburgh College of Art, she developed her unique abstract aesthetic by combining precious metals with bamboo,enamel, patina and antique kimono. This collaging approach is an essential part of her creative process, along with a love for beautifully crafted details. The stories told inside these miniature, precious compositions are unfinished – it is up to you, the wearer to invent the rest.

“I feel awe and respect for natural and man-made objectswhich have been there and lived since ancient times. This idea is deeply rooted in my origin: Japanese culture and environments.The Japanese respect, understand and accept nature as one of their members.”

Awards include:

2015  Winner of Jewellery of the Year, Collect, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK

2014  Second prize of Best New Design at Goldsmiths’Fair, Goldsmiths’Hall, London, UK