” Metals, the materials that surround us, are mined from minerals that exist in nature, and then melted, refined, and shaped. The surface of refined metal is in a very unstable state, and it is destined to constantly change toward rust. Rust on metal is in the same state as the minerals from which it was made; metals are always trying to rust, returning to their natural, mineral state. Metal coloring techniques also take advantage of this tendency of metal to rust, and can be said to superficially return artificial metal materials to their mineral state through coloring techniques. By returning artificial metal materials to their mineral state, I hope to explore the sense of confrontation with nature that existed before humans recognized metals as “materials that can be used.” “

– Tsuyoshi Ueda