We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eriko Kobayashi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Eriko, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My meaningful project is the “Box Series.” I constantly seek everyday objects that can connect with people, recreating these objects in materials that I consider precious, such as glass. My mother was someone who held onto everything, and when I opened the closet, it was jam-packed with organized items in plastic bins. Even when I asked her to throw them away, she saw a story in each item, much like how personal memories are attached to individual objects. She couldn’t bring herself to discard what I considered trash. Personal memory obsessions connect with objects, and certain items we eat or see can stimulate our memories. From these experiences, I create glass boxes to encase and organize obsessions.

Eriko, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started working with glass in 2014. Prior to venturing into glass, I was studying in fields like fashion, architecture, and interior design. However, I had the opportunity to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where I saw a massive glass collection for the first time in my life. I instantly fell in love with the material, and since then, I’ve been creating artworks with glass.

By reimagining everyday objects in glass, I hope to provide a different perspective that allows people to engage in a dialogue with these items. I am delighted when viewers enjoy my work through their own individual stories.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most fulfilling moment for me as an artist is when I see people’s reactions to my work when it’s displayed in public, witnessing their astonishment and smiles. The joy of communicating with people beyond the barrier of words, and the reward of knowing that I might have created a memorable experience, even if just for a second, in someone’s life, is the most precious.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Glass, in my opinion, is a highly limited material when it comes to size. However, if I were to speak of my dream alone, I would love to exhibit about six of my glass box series, each measuring 3-5 feet, in some art museum. My goal is for people to immerse themselves in my work and experience the space it creates.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.eriko-kobayashi.com
• Instagram: e.kobayashi_