Through earthly materials, I explore the shared human conditions of love and suffering by creating emotional vital forms. I seek to create figures that are entirely unique, just as each individual. Therefore, I do not use models and instead, create forms derived from the subconscious. My artworks are not a copy of nature, but rather the reflection of the inner self, emotions, and the hidden figures within. Influenced by my Japanese American heritage, I believe deeply in the sacredness of materials. I work in an array of media such as ceramics, wire weaving, and origami where repetition is an integral part of my art-making process. I utilize repetitive movements like looping, folding, and coiling to reflect a meditative state. In this state, I allow myself to listen to the material and I push myself to make these repetitions until the expression is complete. By tuning in to what is emerging from the material, I create sculptures that contain their own spirit.
A major theme in my work is the resiliency of nature and humankind. As a descendant of atomic bomb survivors, it is my duty to remind others of this horrific time in history so that it will never be repeated. These narratives from the beginning of the Anthropocene give a greater understanding of a not so distant past that is still rooted among us. Artists who have influenced my work include Ruth Asawa, Isamu Noguchi, and Yoko Ono. These artists defy the Japanese phrase/philosophy of indifference: “shikata ga nai” which means “it cannot be helped, accept what is.” I believe that ameliorating the human condition does not occur through defeatism. Following in the footsteps of avant-garde Nikkei artists, I use my art to start dialogues on current social issues.
One of my main sculpting philosophies is to capture the hidden figures that exist in the air around us. I weave wire and clay coils around the forms I see around me, waiting to be revealed. In a time of social distance, we have come to understand space as a separating force. However, I see air as the ether that connects all humankind. By opening my sculptural forms, I create vessels imbued with individualistic essence. These modern artifacts celebrate humankind’s connection with the earth and their desire to say “I was here.”
