CURRENT RESIDENCY
Momoko is in her second year as Artist-in-Residence working with hot glass at New Street Glass Studio. She has been focusing on designing interactive domestic objects that provoke conversations.
She uses texture and figures to evoke the audience’s familiarity, and invites the viewer to start developing a personal relationship with these sculptures. The titles prompt fresh ideas, seemingly separate from the neat and elegant forms, but suggest Momoko’s connection with the work.
Stabbing, Not Shanking ✤ 2018 ✤ Blown Glass & Kiln Cast Glass ✤ 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 11 in 11.5 x 11.5 x 28 cm
Zaaamn Zaddy ✤ 2018 ✤ Blown Glass & Kiln Cast Glass ✤ 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 13 in 11.5 x 11.5 x 33 cm
Maybe Tonight ✤ 2018 ✤ Blown Glass & Kiln Cast Glass ✤ 3 x 3 x 11 1/2 in 7.5 x 7.5 x 28 cm
No Signal✤ 2018 ✤ Blown Glass & Kiln Cast Glass ✤ 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 15 in 9 x 9 x 38 cm
SEPARATE REALITIES SERIES
Exploring the relationship between dream
and waking life experiences.
This series explores where the boundaries might be between what we call “reality”, or the waking life, and our dreams. Memories become blurred over time, and sometimes memories manifest in our dreams. Simulating our memories in our heads becomes very similar to simulation our dreams. How does one inform the other?
Changing Atmosphere ✤ 2016 ✤ Car Windshield and Blown Glass ✤ 24 x 24 x 4 in 61 x 61 x 10 cm
Wings of Separate Realities ✤ 2016 ✤ Blown and Hot Cast Glass with Reclaimed Components ✤ 10 x 5 x 8 in 25.5 x 11.5 x 20 cm
Alan ✤ 2016 ✤ Copper Wire captured in Hot Cast Glass ✤ 10 x 5.5 x 4 in 25.5 x 14 x 10 cm
Going Live ✤ 2016 ✤ Blown and Hot Cast Glass with Copper Wire Inclusion ✤ 4 x 7 x 12 in 10 x 18 x 30.5 cm
The image above show the piece displayed at an exhibition with a red spotlight to highlight its current significance.
Dionysus ✤ 2016 ✤ Blown Glass and Bee's Wax ✤ 17 x 17 x 33 in 44 x 44 x 84 cm
Dionysus is the god of wine and fertility and is known to be unpredictable, androgynous, and induce liberation among his followers. He is also the protector of misfits and is able to communicate with all souls.
This piece was designed for an interactive performance where the audience would use the accompanied glassware to consume the opaque liquid that concealed the sculpture inside. The event took place in a dark room with stark light fixtures to create an artificial night-like atmosphere. The soundproof room is tucked away inside of large, bright, and spacious building; the stark contrast in environments brought attention to all of their senses.
All Ears ✤ 2016 ✤ Blown and Hot Cast Glass with Reclaimed Components ✤ 10 x 12 x 9 in 25.5 x 30.5 x 23 cm
This pieces highlights listening as an introspective ways of digesting different situations and realities.
Recurring Dream ✤ 2015 ✤ Copper and Blown Glass ✤ 8.5 x 10 in 21.5 x 25.5 cm (varying height)
The recurring dream involves an underwater experience where suffocation is relieved through the discovery of circle breathing. Recurring dreams offer a door into lucid dreams because its familiarity fosters awareness.
MEMORIES AND PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY SERIES
Recreating relics from the past to confront the future.
Objects hold space and for many of us encapsulates time and the memories of that time. In this series past objects have been re-manifested to reshape those memories and to write a new memory and inform the future.
Slack ✤ 2015-16 ✤ Blown glass and ropes
The source of inspiration was a childhood favorite object, a Japanese buoy. The object originally belonged to Momoko's grandfather, and it served as an introduction to hand blown glass. The ethereal yet anchoring presence of this piece represents the flexibility that memories, relationships, space, and glass all posses.
Uranium ✤ 2015 ✤ Found glass ✤ 27 x 10 x 10 in 69 x 25 x 25 cm
Up until the 20th century uranium was used in glassware for its unique way of capturing light. This totem is the result of a hunt for antique glass in thrift stores throughout Allston (a neighborhood in Boston, MA). Tall glass objects are enough to push away wary viewers, but the notion of radioactivity concerns most people. Fortunately and unfortunately, Momoko has yet to find authentic uranium antiques.
Alchemy ✤ 2014 ✤ Blown glass, mirror, tap water, and distilled water ✤ 26 x 26 x 19 in 66 x 66 x 49 cm
The creation of these glass piece requires a basic understanding of physics. Science being an endless source of inspiration and having a long history with glass, it was only appropriate that a few theories should be exhibited in the curating process as well. Water is used to demonstrate siphon, suction, and surface tension. Light is reflected, magnified, and refracted. Gravity is the only thing holding these objects in place.
Nautical Constellation ✤ 2014 ✤ Blue sheet glass and glass cast in a sand mold ✤ 7 x 4 x 5 in 17.5 x 10 x 12.5 cm
Glass has qualities that are other worldly, and combining the vastly different processes helps to find many bridges.
Pressure ✤ 2014 ✤ Hot glass pressed between two wood carvings ✤ 33 x 6.5 x 7 in 84 x 16.5 x 18 cm
The creation of this piece required both carvings to be soaked in water before coming in contact with molten glass. Smoke and steam filled the air while the glass cools and takes its form. The result shows burn marks on the warm wood while the glass exhibits an ice like quality. Gravity is now the only force holding these three objects together.
WINDOW SERIES
Exploring windows as portals, reflections, and filters.
These windows are an opening to another space, an altered place, and different frame of mind.
Preservation 2014 Cast glass and wood 8.5 x 3 x 8.5 in 22 x 7.5 x 22 cm
The Condensation 2014 Glass cast into a sand and graphite mold 40 x 12.7 x 7.5 cm
The inspiration is surface tension and ripples. Shadows created under a calm body of water are emulated through the window.
Corrosion & Erosion 2014 Hot glass cast in sand and graphite mold 8.5 x 3 x 8.5 in 22 x 7.5 x 22 cm
Change reveals layers and complexity.
Tangible Separation
2014
Hot cast glass in Sand and graphite mold
13 x 8 x 5 in