The Concept of My Work

The concept of my work is "Connection of life." The particles shared by all things in the universe (the foundations of existence) birth cells, pass through evolution to become all manner of living things, and are once more reduced to particles via the sequential process of life and death. All living things repeat this cycle of creation and decomposition, and this is what I mean by " Connection of life."

What compelled me to work on this concept is that in my first year at university, I took an anatomical art class which left deep impressions on me about the similarity between the forms of living things. In particular, blood vessels and capillaries bear such a resemblance to plant roots that you could almost mistake one for another; in this way, you can feel the connections of life through your sense of sight. Before beginning my work, I set aside organisms' common properties, and focused on their visible similarities of form.

At first, I attempted to use watercolors, acrylics, oil paints, pencils, etc., to change the appearance of living things and objects and fuse them into a clear depiction. What further broadened the breadth of my representation was my encounter with lithography. Altering grease pencil with oil-based ink allowed for bold lines that contrasted strongly with the soft appearance of pencil. Also, within direct monochrome depiction, I felt the possibility of unexpected representations being born in my deep consciousness. Additionally, I thought that woodblock prints' reverse images and indirect printing would be the key to seeking the essence and connections of formless life. The connections of formless life are complementary to clear material connections: they become the substance of spirit and mind. My progression to Lithograph allowed me to search more deeply for these internal connections. With such concepts as my foundation, I have commingled the depiction of boundless metaphysical connections with motifs of material connections; through this I am seeking the essence of life.

                                                           

              Ayaka YAMADA