生命の系譜　(The Genealogy of Life)

自然界に生きるものは、この世界に生を受けてから成長するまでの過程で個々様々な変化を遂げてゆく。その自然との繋がりを起点に、私が思いついたもの（私の内で誘発されたもの）を表現できたらと思う。このモチーフは、創作を始めた最初の頃からのもの。ただ単に具象を表現するのではなく、自分なりの世界観で生命の系譜を表現していきたい。「輪廻のカタチ」もまた大きなテーマとして、私のなかにいつもある。

Hiroko Hosomi hopes to express through her art the connection between nature and the transformation undergone by all living creatures. This has been a defining characteristic throughout her career as a designer. She doesn’t want to limit herself to producing art, she also wants to express the genealogy of life with her own view of the world. In addition, reincarnation is a theme that is prevalent throughout her body of work.

日常の中の発見　(Discovery of an Ordinary Life)

ひらめきの瞬間は生活の中にあり、日常の中にある。インスピレーションは、多くは自然界から。時に、人が発した言葉や読んだ本の文章に発想のキーワードが隠され潜んでいることもある。毎日の生活の中でふと目についたものや偶然出合ったものを、頭の中でひとつひとつ繋げていったり変化させたり。時にはありえない姿を妄想したりして、造形に繋げていく。この、発想力こそが最も重要であり、造形の鍵となる。

Hiroko Hosomi finds inspiration through the most ordinary expressions of everyday life. Random words she hears uttered on the street or she reads trigger her emotional response. Everyday life provides opportunities to experience things which give her ideas. She then applies her imagination to these ideas which then form the inspiration for her art. For example, she will use her imagination to transform a normal everyday object. She believes that imagination is the most important element of the artistic process.

抽象の中の具象　(Concrete Objects Existing in the Abstract)

造形する形は、全体としては抽象的。が、それらの中で、強調、主張したい部分は変形や誇張を加え、具象的になる。たとえば、美しい部分。素材をガラスに置き換えたり、不釣り合いに大きくしたり。このバランス、金属とガラスの総体の造形バランスを計ることに全神経を注ぐ。

The artistic process for Hiroko Hosomi begins with an image in her mind that is fuzzy and abstract. She refines this image and a clearer shape begins to develop. The result is a concrete idea which she then forms into an interesting piece of art. When crafting her pieces, the focus is on the balance between her two primary materials, pewter and glass. As she is expressing her image into a work of art, she sometimes changes the material from pewter to glass as well as making one part unbalanced to express her image.

モノガタリ　(MONOGATARI - story)

テーマやキーワードから誘発され具体化された「生き物」（作品）に物語という流れを植え付ける。観客はそこに、作家の意図する通りのモノガタリを感じ取るものもいれば、独自の感覚や世界観で確認し、楽しむこともある。それはそれで自分にとっては、嬉しいことです。

As mentioned above, Hiroko HOSOMI’s art is inspired from themes and keywords encountered every day.

While creating her art, however, she uses her imagination to weave an intricate story around her pieces. When viewing her art, some people might envision the same story as she imagined, while others will have a completely different perspective. Hiroko Hosomi believes this is the essence of art, and is most happy when people can discuss and share their visions and interpretations of her work.

制作過程　(Process of Making Things)

作品を制作する最初の工程、始まりは「溶かす」という作業から。錫合金を溶かし、作りやすい大きさにしていく。ガラスを溶かし、自分の思うカタチにしていく。この両者が一度固まったもの同士を、また溶かし合体させる。硬質な素材を溶かすという行為とその様は、非日常のもの。溶けていく様を眺めていると、神経が刺激され、同時につくりたいカタチを現実にできるという私の欲求は満たされてゆく。迷走、失敗の日々を抜け辿り着いた、私にとって最高の表現方法です。

The first step in creating her pieces is the melting process. Pewter is melted and the perfect amount is extracted. Molten glass is then formed into the desired shape. When both of these elements harden, they are melted yet again, and this time are combined together to form the piece. The process of melting such hard elements is not an ordinary occurrence. As she observes the elements melt and take shape, she becomes very excited and at the same time feels an extraordinary sense of fulfillment as the image in her mind become real. While this process is very difficult, and fraught with setbacks and failure, the finished piece is the ultimate expression of her art.

素材　(Materials)

硬い金属のはずなのに、優しい感じや柔らかな感じが漂う。それが私が扱っている金属が有する特徴。錫70％～80％、鉛10％、そのほか銅、アンチモン（antimony.）・・・比較的低温で溶ける錫合金。そして、ガラス。この煤合金とガラスを組み合わせにより、「粘土細工のように手でこねて作っているんですか？」とよく尋ねられるような、柔らかくて自由度の高いフォルムを具現化していく。ガスバーナーと半田ごてで、さまざまなパーツからオブジェ全体までひとつひとつ一点一点すべてが手作業なのです。

While most metals seem extremely hard and unmoving, certain types can also be soft, gentle and smooth. Hiroko Hosomi’s preferred blend of pewter contains approximately 70-80% tin, 10% lead as well as copper and antimony. This combination has a relatively low melting point. In addition to the pewter, glass is also an equally important element in her art. Creating objects using a combination of pewter and glass can allow Hiroko Hosomi to make pieces that are smooth and free-flowing. Her pieces look so fluid that she is often asked if they were formed by hand, such as when clay is formed to make pottery. Each of her pieces is completely handmade using nothing but a gas burner and soldering iron.