Biography and CV
Artist Biography:
Tomoko Yamada is an artist and designer based in Broome, Western Australia. She worked in photographic studio and graphic design in Japan. At the same time, she was creating her own conceptual artworks. In 2008 she moved to Australia and her focus shifted to installation art, predominantly in fibre work. She communicates via “language of thread” to form a conceptual development into tangible sculptural and installation creations with performance facets. She draws inspiration from diverse areas including culture, history, language, journeys, streetscenes and noise; along with experimental art and music. Often her organic creations remain ‘works in progress’ as she continues to play with the possibilities of her abstract musings; perhaps varying installation formats at a later showing. She is also inclined to unite two or more of her works to enhance the conceptual value of her installations.
Tomoko learnt the almost lost, traditional practice of fishermen’s netmaking from an elderly Japanese man who worked as a deep-sea pearl diver when he was a young man. This has led her in a new direction for potential in artisitic representations. It is a dynamic activity she can apply to communicate the past, present and future through the language of thread. Thread is the key; symbolising the repetitive mapping process of human life, weaving lifelines, connecting points of existence, simple elements in a complex web. She gains personally from the messages she receives during her daily practice of working threads to bring into being an interweaving dialogue of an explanation of her inner life.
TOMOKO YAMADA / Curriculum Vitae
tomokoyamada.com@gmail.com / www.tomokoyamada.com / PO Box 3843 Broome WA 6725
Affiliations/Memberships
Japanese Artist Directory, Japan Foundation, Sydney, NSW
Nikkei Australia, Sydney, NSW
Broome Historical Society & Museum, Broome, WA
Qualifications:
1999 Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Thchnology (MEXT) / Colour Theories
1987 The Japan Calligraphy (SHODO) Association / Master of Japanese brush calligraphy
Relevant Employment:
2008 - 1998 ARTRA Co. - Creative Director, Art Coodinator, Manager
1998 - 1994 Shimada Photographic Studio - Creative Coodinator, Manager
Selected Solo & Collaborative work Exhibitions:
2022 Common language of thread: Flow Movement...,
Studio Residency/Open studio exhibition, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Perth, WA
2021 Bricolage (in collaboration with Vanessa Margetts),
Corrugated Lines A Festival of Words, Goolarri Media, Broome, WA
2021 Common language of thread: Flow Movement...,
Chinatown Discovery Festival & Broome Fringe Festival, Broome, WA
2021 Common language of thread: Flow Movement...,
Studio Residency, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Perth, WA
2017 Reincarnation, Broome Fringe Festival, Pearl Shed Framing Gallery, Broome, WA
2016 Continuation, Broome Fringe Festival, Pearl Shed Framing Gallery, Broome, WA
2015 Continuation, ex-Gecko Gallery, Broome, WA
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2021 Future Prediction, Mihara Daruma Art
JR Hiroshima-Mihara Central Station/Space Mihara Satellace, Hiroshima, Japan
2020 Circular Sequence, Wangaratta Petite Miniature Textile Art/Finalist Prize, Wangaratta, VIC
2018 Over and over, Deadly Threadly, Chinatown Project HQ Space, Broome, WA
2007 Maru-Sankaku-Shikaku (in collaboration with Sakurou KANT Wanatabe),
Non-Capable Record Japanese New Folk, Saskatoon, Canada
2007 Maru-Sankaku-Shikaku (in collaboration with Sakurou KANT Wanatabe),
New World Arts Park, Festival Gate cocoroom, Osaka, Japan
2005 Maru-Sankaku-Shikaku (in collaboration with Sakurou KANT Wanatabe),
Technopolitan Museum, Space BRIDGE, Osaka, Japan
1999 Osaka Contemporary Human Art, Osaka, Japan
1998 Osaka Contemporary Human Art, Osaka, Japan
1997 Osaka Contemporary Human Art, Osaka, Japan
Selected Public Commissions & Professional Experience:
2020-2021 Public Art Design - Japanese themed at Napier Terrace,
Shire of Broome Chinatown Revitalization Project stage2, Broome, WA
2019 Design/Calligraphy, Floating Lantern Ceremony, Shinju Matsuri, Broome, WA
2019 Community Art Workshop: Fisherman’s net making, Shinju Matsuri, Broome, WA
2018 Design/Calligraphy, Floating Lantern Ceremony, Shinju Matsuri, Broome, WA
2018 Judge’s Panel, Shinju Matsuri Art Award & View to Asia Sculpture Exhibition, Broome, WA
2005 Entrance Installation Art Direction, Term-1, 2, 3, 4
World Co., Ltd., Bee Zip Fashion Department Store Building, Osaka, Japan
2004 Entrance Installation Art Direction, , Term-1, 2, 3
World Co., Ltd., Bee Zip Fashion Department Store Building, Osaka, Japan
2003 Judge’s Panel, New Generations Street Art Graffiti Award, Tokyo, Japan
2003 Installation Art Direction, Term-1, 2, 3, 4, 5
VIVRE Co., VIVRE Fashion Department Store Building, Yokohama/Kyoto/Okayama/Fukuoka, Japan
Formal Residencies:
2022 Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Perth, WA
2021 Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Perth, WA
1998 San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, USA
Grants:
2021 DLGSC Culture and Art, WA: Arts Creative Development, Australia
2021 DLGSC Culture and Art, WA: Arts New Project, Australia
2001 ARTRA Visual Arts Board: Creative Development Program Grant, Japan
1998 ARTRA Visual Arts Board: Art Study & Travel Grant, Japan