Rie Taniguchi was born in Nagoya, Japan in 1963, earning her MA in Silversmithing, Jewellery and Applied Craft from London Guildhall University in 1998. Her art, deeply rooted in her Japanese heritage and London training, marries traditional silversmithing with narratives of wildlife and nature. Her pieces, often depicting endangered species in silver and mixed media, aim for lifelike portrayals infused with satire and folklore.
Silversmith Rie Taniguchi was born in Nagoya, Japan, in 1963. She earned a Diploma in Art and Design at City of London Polytechnic (1989–92), followed by Extended Studies (1992–96) and an MA in Silversmithing, Jewellery, and Applied Crafts (1996–98) at London Guildhall University.
Her work is characterised by forms derived from the natural world, often focusing on animals and their narratives. However, in her own words, she aims to make her creations ‘life-like rather than realistic’ (Mobilia Gallery). This approach allows her to explore the essence of life, often with a touch of satire and playfulness. Her animals, which look ‘as if they could scuttle away at any moment’ ( Scotland on Sunday), are portrayed within their natural environments or in unique situations, speaking to the fantastical nature of real animal forms and the complexity of capturing their essence in art. Taniguchi is particularly interested in themes of extinction, survival, and endangerment, weaving these narratives into her pieces. Her creations are also connected to her own childhood memories and to folklore and myths, re-enacting tales from various cultures. This storytelling aspect is a testament to her concern for the environment and wildlife, and the complex relationship they share with humans. Taniguchi's artistic process is both diverse and intricate. She employs a variety of techniques, such as press forming, raising, constructing, and carving, predominantly using sterling silver, but also incorporating gold, semiprecious stones, copper, and other materials, such as stone, wood, enamel and acrylic. Her pieces often feature ingenious spring-loaded designs. This approach allows her to create objects that are both aesthetically pleasing and wearable. Her work ranges from smaller pieces made directly in silver to larger works for which she creates paper and copper models. The process for each piece can vary greatly, taking anywhere from a week to six months.
Everything she sees, reads, and hears contributes to her creative process. Taniguchi is particularly influenced by the news. She often starts by drawing animals from photographs and films before relying on her memory for designing. These initial drawings reflect her aim to capture the essence of things with simple, expressive forms and clean lines. There is a noticeable interplay of humour and darkness in her work, along with a sense of physicality and movement. In her approach, Taniguchi sees a group of works as an installation unified by a theme but, nevertheless, leaves the interpretation somewhat open-ended. This encourages viewers to engage with her pieces on a deeper, personal level, contemplating and reflecting on the underlying messages.
Taniguchi has exhibited nationally and internationally, holding her first solo show at the Arai Atelier-Gallery, Tokyo, in 2016. She is part of the Teshigoto Collective, a group of Japanese designer-makers trained in London and dedicated to traditional handwork, alongside knitwear designer Tomoko Yamanaka and textile designer Mica Hirosawa. As part of this collective, she has shown her work in Designer Maker Exhibition Vol. 1 at Koppel Project Station, Hampstead (2023). She has also contributed to Bloomin’ Jewels at Contemporary Applied Arts, London (2017) and The Miniaturist Gallery at the Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh (2023). Rie Taniguchi's work is not currently represented in UK public collections.
Consult items in the Ben Uri archive related to [Rie Taniguchi]
Publications related to [Rie Taniguchi] in the Ben Uri Library