"A Corner of Town" Mosaic by Toyoharu Kii

Inspired by the representation of clouds in traditional Japanese screens, Toyoharu Kii’s uses texture to assume the role of color in his monochromatic mosaic “A Corner of Town.” Expressed as solid shapes of gold color, clouds are juxtaposed in Japanese screens with bird’s-eye views of intricately painted cities. To create the same effect, the artist contrasts shapes composed of similarly sized tesserae with varied patterns that suggest trees, a bridge and a wending stream.

A leader of the cross-cultural craft resurgence, Japan-based artist Toyoharu Kii creates his intricate mosaics with hand-cut Italian marble and smalti, Venetian glass made by the same Italian family for over 400 years. Using traditional Italian techniques, Kii’s art is nonetheless modern. It is monochromatic, abstract, and highly textured and highlights the involved and technical art of mosaic making.