"There are always flowers for those who want to see them." – Henri Matisse

 

Born in Saitama, Japan, Hiyu Hamasaki studied jewelry-specific metalworking techniques at Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry, where they also explored how a wide range of materials might function as jewelry. Their dialogue between refined craftsmanship and experimental materiality brings a quiet intensity to each piece. In recent works, including the pieces featured in GARDEN, Hamasaki investigates this balance through cast plastic—a material that feels both solid and spectral.⁠

In this work, translucent resin mimics the clarity of glass or ice, yet holds the warmth of something touched and worn. Within the surface are subtle impressions—veins of leaves, fine textures, traces of organic decay. The result is ghostlike: nature suspended not in amber, but in a moment of pause, caught mid-transformation.⁠

Hamasaki speaks through materials. Whether working in iron, steel, or resin, their process is meticulous, slow, and contemplative. They studied under Mikiko Minewaki at Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry, distilling emotion into form—creating jewelry not merely to be worn, but to be revered.⁠ Their influences cross cultures and disciplines, drawing from Japanese minimalism, European contemporary craft, and a deep reverence for the ephemeral. In their hands, nature becomes quiet architecture. Time slows. A breath lingers. A single petal becomes an artifact.⁠

Within GARDEN, Hamasaki’s work opens a dialogue about how we perceive beauty: what appears fragile might be resilient; what seems familiar can surprise us.