Shoko Fukuda is a basket maker and Japanese artist who holds a Bachelor of Design from Kyoto University of Art and Design, and a Master’s degree from Osaka University of Art, where she focused on research in textile practice. Basket making is not only a tradition but also a contemporary art form. She has exhibited her work in Japan, Europe, and internationally for the past 10 years. Shoko Fukuda currently works as an instructor at Kobe Design University in the Fashion Design department.

Inspired by "baskets," which people have shaped as vessels since ancient times, Shoko Fukuda creates sculptural works by hand-weaving a flexible linear material. By adding a strong spiral weave of white thread to the transparent and flexible material, the forms are sometimes coiled, sometimes warped, and sometimes curvilinear, creating soft forms. Fukuda is deeply captivated by the natural forms surrounding her, viewing objects like shells, seeds, and insects as intricate 3D artworks. She’s especially attracted to patterns formed by intertwined lines seen in items like electrical wires, vine tendrils, and spider webs. She enjoys observing the flow of these lines. Her choice of materials for her artworks is simple yet unique, including thread, hose, fishing line, plastic wire, and packing paper string.

Informed by the traditional craft of basket weaving, Shoko Fukuda’s artistry focuses on the potential of twisting shapes and forms. The inherent resistance of the materials she employs influences her weaving process, ultimately dictating the final form and engendering a rhythmic interplay of lines through repetitive motion. This particular approach enables Shoko Fukuda to create continuous and supple curves in space, a hallmark of her artistic oeuvre. To realize her visions, Shoko Fukuda doesn’t use specialized equipment or machinery. Instead, she employs a basic needle and scissors to handle the materials she possesses. Given the three-dimensional nature of her pieces, a space that offers views from multiple perspectives is crucial for her artistic journey.