I've been working as a contemporary craft practitioner exploring representation of URUSHI (Japanese lacquer) work with diverse materials and measures such as carbon fiber and photograph and exhibiting internationally since I finish MA at the Kyoto City University of Art, Japan in 1996.

Since I became an artist in residence at The Surrey Institute of Art & Design UK in 2002, I've been undertaking the research into rapid prototyping and how this technique can be applied and utilized within a craft and sculptural practice, especially in relation to URUSHI work.

While exploring the form and fluidity of the object, it is further possible to examine the organic nature of URUSHI through the fluid surface characteristic in lacquer ware. In addition to natural or liquid form, application of URUSHI gives a strong sense of the organic. I believe that the combination of an object formed by the aid of computer and machine with skills of the hand and mind will lead to new futures in URUSHI work.

View Kenji Toki's images
View Kenji Toki's video