BIO Moeko MACHIDA is an Aichi (Japan)-born artist who creates paintings under the prominent theme: the nature of life. Placing herself amid all phenomena surrounding lives, she carefully observes and perceives phenomena, thus meticulously putting them into images. Raised by biologist parents, she has been familiar with matters surrounding vitality and has had a strong perception of emotions since an early age. Consequently, she had gotten overwhelmed by the spirits of the dead and the invisible existences surrounding her. It was her expressionist self that found a way to face those presences that she could not detach herself from. The ideas she nurtured in studying Japanese painting and Butoh dance also have influences on her artistry. While studying at the Kyoto City University of Arts, she learned the Japanese painting method that places emphasis on sketching, through which she acquired an attitude of taking time to face the subject matter with serenity. She also started learning dance in her childhood and studied Butoh eagerly during college, which led her to apply the Butoh-derived idea of the body as being amid phenomena surrounding lives to her work. Her portfolio includes fusuma (sliding door) paintings for traditional Japanese houses, hotel room exhibitions, solo shows in Japan and Italy and she has participated in residencies across Japan and Europe. In 2023, moved to California, where she now showcases her work in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Statement I explore the hidden beauty of living beings through paintings created with traditional Japanese pigments. Engaging in mindful observation, I use my entire body to carefully sense the unseen forces within life. My creations are tangible results of this exploration and observation. The round shapes in my work, inspired by rocks and stones, symbolize life’s essence. When I paint, I’m inspired not only by living organisms but also by the spirit of the dead. Recognizing that life includes death is essential to my creative vision. This understanding shapes my work as an expression of admiration for the beauty and strength of all existence, as well as deep respect for all living beings.
