See my artwork. Why disposables are disposables? –Rui Kikuchi

Rui Kikuchi (right) and Yusuke Takemura are standing in front of Rui's artworks at the Japan Foundation Sydney Source: SBS

Three artworks by Rui Kikuchi, a Japanese jewellery artist in Kyoto, are now showing at the exhibition ‘Shifts in Japanese materiality’ at the Japan Foundation in Sydney.

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Rui's 'PET series, 2015'. Using recycled PET bottles and silver Source: SBS

Rui moved to Sydney as a child and studied a Bachelor of Visual Arts degree at the University of Sydney.  After Rui returned to Japan in 2008, she attended the Itami College of Jewellery.  

For this exhibition, Rui brought her artworks that are made with “disposables” such as old steel nails and recycled PET bottles.   And she often gets inspiration from unwanted weeds which have a strong life force.

Rui tells us about the three artworks shown at the exhibition and shares her thoughts about being a Japanese artist who has spent her formative years in Australia and have a strong connection to the world outside Japan.

Rui explaining her artworks to visitors Source: SBS