Artwork revitalizes the city and is accessible to people.
One of norm.'s missions is to create such an environment in Japan.
hotel norm. periodically changes the art in the hotel, aiming to achieve its mission by providing artists with a place to exhibit and sell their work, and by offering guests a space filled with art and the enjoyment of living there.

Born in London in 1971 and educated in fine art in the UK, Mark Vassallo graduated from Central Saint Martins in 1992 and has since lived and worked in Japan. After first discovering clay at Wimbledon School of Art in 1999, he installed his first kiln in 2008 and later established a ceramic studio overlooking the shores of Shirahama in Shimoda in 2016. Working across ceramics and fine art photography, Vassallo’s practice is rooted in a deep sensitivity to time, material, and the quiet rituals of observation. His work has been exhibited internationally and recognized with awards including the Corn & Wulf Award in London, the Young Portfolio Award from the Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts, and a Merit Award from the Art Directors Club in New York.

In ceramics, Vassallo embraces an intuitive and experimental approach. Each piece is handmade—shaped by his own hands on the wheel, then carefully dried, glazed, and fired. No two works are ever the same; subtle variations in the clay, firing temperature, or atmosphere within the kiln lead to unexpected textures and forms. It is in these moments of unpredictability that he finds beauty—where material and process engage in quiet dialogue. His ceramics carry the quiet imperfection and natural elegance that come only from a deep, sustained relationship with the medium.

In his photographic series, Vassallo often devotes days to a single flower—carefully observing and documenting its subtle transformations through hundreds of images. From this extensive archive, one final photograph is chosen and displayed at home, where it is viewed daily over the course of several months. With time, the image reveals deeper layers of beauty and intimacy, drawing the viewer into a quiet conversation. Only those photographs that truly capture the essence of a flower—its ephemeral grace, quiet strength, and enduring presence—are selected for his final collection.

The Platinum series is created using a 19th-century platinum print technique known for its extraordinary archival permanence—capable of preserving an image for over 500 years. Vassallo crafts every element of the process by hand, from the paper to the exposure equipment. Though time-consuming and costly, this method is revered among professionals for the unparalleled depth it achieves. Its richly textured tonal range, sculptural presence, and velvety blacks offer a quiet intensity that stands apart from modern silver-based prints, embodying the very spirit of timelessness that defines his work.