Niyoko Ikuta Ku-160 (Free Essence-160) (2022)

Capturing the complexity of light as it reflects, refracts and passes through cut cross sections of sheet glass, conveyed in Ikuta’s glass sculptures are the artist’s aesthetic melodies – graceful, almost musical manifestations of Ikuta’s inner consciousness, each sheet of glass cut by hand and attached one by one with a special type of glue that disappears completely under ultraviolet light. In fact, Ikuta’s signature series “Ku” expresses the Buddhist concept of reality and existence as being different yet “true” to each and every individual. The reality perceived by one person may be different from the reality experienced by another, even though they are equally true. Likewise, Ku changes completely at each and every angle, yet each individual viewer, even from different viewpoints, will still experience its true self. The iridescent rhythms of glass, captured herein, sparkling, riveting, and ultimately, enrapturing.