Logging
Logging
Ink on rice paper
14in x 14in
「樹木真美 kiki mami～」
One of my favourite Cantopop songs, translated in English: Authentic Beauty of Trees (?)
In the Artists Talk, Skai Fowler, the facilitator, asked a thought-provoking question: In what ways can we navigate art to contribute to a healthier environment? I have been asking myself many times because whatever we make extracts resources. Can I make something better than nothing? I am aware of the sustainability of materials, and that’s how I started craving foliage on the streets. The philosophy of East Asia aesthetics fascinates me, and the production of sumi ink and rice papers seems to have a smaller environmental footprint. Therefore, I explored these materials when I restarted making art after moving to a new country.
But there was a time when I felt lost. I wanted to make large vibrate colour work to meet popular tastes. So, I went for using thick paper and chemical additives. After countless failures, I questioned why I pursued something other media like acrylic and printmaking could already do. More importantly, what is the beauty and meaning I genuinely appreciate?
The simplicity and subtleness of making art with nature. And it takes time.
這幅年輪水墨，由零開始摸索，經過以年計的試驗。曾經想像自己做出一系列作品參加art fair，但時間（和能力）永遠不足，又擔心反應不佳浪費心機，而且不斷聽到旁人質疑，感覺要quit game了。
最後依靠體內殘餘一點科學家鍥而不捨精神，發現「時間」是做水墨印的要訣，也真正回應了年輪的意義，有機會要申請諾貝爾獎。
有幸參與這場展覽，慶祝首次在art label貼上已sold小紅點！啊⋯⋯好感觸～好感謝那位不認識的知音人，thank you thank you thank you～
「只要信，啊真美真美，就能經過～」
Floating Ink
I start a work with intuitive thinking and try new things resonating feelings. I attempt to experiment with new techniques and materials to express Asian and Indigenous worldviews, connect with nature, and explore diasporic identity formation. I am practicing Suminagashi (Japanese ink marbling) to embody the Japanese Zen philosophy and Chinese Taoism, reconnecting to the spiritual world shared with my faraway Japanese Buddhist family.
The concentric circles of ink and water express nature’s cyclical and rhythmical workings and see everything as a whole. The flows of ink and water are uncontrollable, embracing the beauty of imperfection and the impermanence of all things.
Join me to float with nature.
See more floating ink artwork