一期一会 // heart compass 

This duo show is a collaboration between Rino & Tomoko Kodama. 一期一会 (ichi go ichi e) is a Japanese saying that translates to “once in a lifetime”-- a spirit of embracing and treasuring every encounter (even the mundane). Upon creating these ceramic objects, vessels, and floral arrangements, we reflected on the deep knowing that the people gathered in this space, the arrangement of meetings here and the arrangement of flowers, the interactions the flora has with the clay bodies, each impression made on the ceramic, are all temporary, uniquely different, and ephemeral. 
Through creating arrangements together, we treasure these small moments of growth, seeing how a flower cranes its head toward the sun-- remembering that every day, every individual, is an irreplaceable, irreplicable, miracle of constant change.

Opening Reception April 1, 2022 / 5-8 PM

by Rino & Tomoko Kodama

rino kodama (b. 1998 Singapore, SG)

rino is an interdisciplinary artist working in ceramics, painting, and drawing. They recently graduated from UCLA with a BA in Art and a minor in Asian American studies--their focus is handbuilding ceramic cocoon vessels, manifesting landscapes of queer self actualization and transformation.  Incorporating archetypes such as the Shadow, the Inner Child (Fool), the Hermit, and Strength (Lion), they examine the various chemical stages of clay, from raw clay to its fired form, as mirroring stages of metamorphosis we embody. They imagine an alternative present and futures, free of binary constrictions, and they hope to experience it with you.  

Since moving back home to the Bay in 2020, they have been slowly learning to throw on the wheel and exploring new realms of clay. They are currently working at Wilson Park Ceramics as an assistant lab tech and will be teaching handbuilding classes this summer. 

Tomoko Kodama (b.1965 Tokyo, JP)

Tomoko is a floral designer and flower gardener. She primarily focuses on creating arrangements using seasonal flowers she has grown in her backyard. During her 20’s she studied at Vantan Design Institute and worked in women’s apparel. After seven years of working in the clothing industry, she eventually transitioned to floral design, where she created arrangements for entire weddings. Upon marriage, moving to Singapore, and then immigrating to the US, she began gardening through a local adult school in California. She joined the Santa Clara Master Gardeners in 2005, and has continued to volunteer in maintaining flower beds for the past 17 years. Master Gardeners teach region specific gardening skills to the public. Kodama found delight in growing flowers from seed through volunteering.