Iyamari is a Japanese contemporary artist who has been active since 2008. She has held solo exhibitions and directed various art projects in Tokyo and London before relocating to Amsterdam in 2019.

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Iyamari’s work primarily explores time and perception as its central themes, inspired by a near-death experience at the age of 20. Her focus is on creating a discernible model of “a moment” to examine and transcend the boundaries of human cognition, with the aim of expanding and complementing it.

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Born into a family with long-standing traditions in crafts and handiwork, specialising in making Kiri-tansu (traditional Japanese chests made of paulownia wood) and bespoke kimono fabrics, Iyamari was immersed in art from an early age. Spending much of her childhood in her father’s art studio, where he worked as a professional painter, she organically assimilated the reinterpretation of Japanese aesthetics into modern art forms.

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With a background in traditional handcrafts and Japanese painting techniques, Iyamari utilises these skills in innovative, experimental, and expressive ways. Her work often incorporates natural materials, such as trees and stones, which serve as mediums for time visualisation. These materials contain records of their growth and environmental changes, aligning with her themes of time and perception.

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Iyamari’s print works are hand-printed with sumi ink using tree stumps or felled wood. The ink, made from animal glue and soot, is safe for living trees when applied. This method was inspired by traditional Japanese techniques used to protect trees from pathogens. The prints are displayed on washi, a type of Japanese traditional paper known for its strength, making it ideal for capturing organic shapes. Many of her works are framed in recycled vintage items, repaired and repurposed by Iyamari to honour the craftsmanship of past artisans. Over time, the natural deterioration of these materials becomes an integral part of the artwork itself.

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Her artistic practice spans a variety of media, including multimedia installations and presentations. Notably, Iyamari is the founder and director of the Telescore Project, a global collaborative art initiative that brings together artists and performers from diverse disciplines, such as dance, music, and software programming. This project exemplifies her innovative and boundary-pushing artistic vision, uniting talents to create compelling, cross-genre works.