KOJI HOASHI

Creating art, I am conscious of imbuing the work with such things as elegance, strength, sincerity and generosity, which possess a certain humanity. In the glazing process, I am very mindful of the need to harmonise colour, texture and application to enhance each individual piece.

Koji Hoashi is a practicing ceramic artist living in Ballarat, and currently is Honorary Artist in Residence at the SMB Campus, Federation University. His research interests include Japanese Aesthetics, Cultural Expressions and Cultural Education. After completing his B.Ed. (Primary School, Fine Art and Music in Secondary School) at Oita University in Japan, Koji moved to Australia in 1985 to continue his research and cultural investigations as well as obtaining a M.A. (Fine Art).

While working as a lecturer in Japanese Language / Culture as well as International Studies at Federation University between 1993 and 2018, Koji also presented lectures and demonstrations relating to his ceramic research in Australia and Japan. His current research interests involve contemporary reflections on Zen expression, through a range of personalised musical and Visual Art Interpretations. Although Koji maintained an intrinsic Japanese sensibility, living in Australia for over thirty years enabled him to formulate a critical comparative examination of Japanese and Australian aesthetics. This in turn has facilitated a deeper objective understanding of Japanese culture.

Koji’s objective in creating his artwork is to develop and construct an empathetic relationship with the spirit of Zen and the cross-cultural aesthetic in an unselfconscious manner. The intended spirit of Koji’s work is reliant on this phenomenon as much as the physical balance, form and colour. Other mitigating influences such as environmental, philosophical and musical factors contribute to work in subtle, yet significant ways. Koji has had a number of solo and group exhibitions in various private galleries and public spaces in Australia and Japan. In addition to a life sized bronze sculpture commissioned by the City of Oita, his works have been acquired by a number of Regional Fine Art Galleries in Australia.