GALLERY crossing is pleased to present a solo exhibition by Yoko Ichikawa, on view from August 15 to August 27.

Born in Osaka in 1985, Ichikawa studied lacquer art at Kyoto City University of Arts and is currently based in Takashima, Shiga Prefecture. Her practice centers on shippi (lacquered leather), a technique introduced to Japan from Tang China and dating back to the Asuka period. Although the tradition disappeared with the widespread use of wooden substrates, Ichikawa has spent years reimagining the medium for the present day. Through close study of lacquer boxes preserved in the Shōsō-in Repository, historical artifacts and archival materials, together with her own sustained experimentation, she has developed a distinctive approach that departs from historical methods while remaining deeply rooted in their legacy.

Working with lacquer and leather, Ichikawa draws inspiration from handicraft traditions, agriculture, and ethnography. Much like craft once emerged naturally from everyday life, her work is grounded in gestures inseparable from living itself: weaving, stitching, mending, and caring. Her quiet yet persistent reflections on life, death, and materiality lend each piece a presence that transcends its function as an object.

Takashima, where Ichikawa lives and works, was once a thriving center of sericulture. The starting point for this exhibition was an unexpected encounter with silkworm cocoons discovered inside the walls and attic of her old home during its demolition. From this experience, Ichikawa began to reflect on themes of inheritance and efficiency, the frameworks we create for ourselves, the relationship between the individual and history, and the fragile continuum of life.

The exhibition features new works, including "Mimic / vibrating body", a series of sculptural boxes shaped as if kneading leather itself into organic forms, as well as recent experiments incorporating molds into her practice. Through these works, "cocoon and frame" invites viewers to consider what is passed down, what is shed, and what remains.

We warmly invite you to experience this exhibition.