Nature

Living in the tranquility of a Zen Temple, enveloped by the vibrant life of the Temple garden, I am deeply moved by the perpetual cycles of the natural world. From the delicate emergence of a new leaf to the solemn decay of fallen wood, nature's symphony of birth and death, light and dark, is a constant source of inspiration for my art.

I strive to transcend the conventional boundaries of perception to capture the essence of this eternal flow in my work.

Nature teaches that light cannot exist without dark, and growth comes through decay. I strive to embody these truths by creating pieces that reflect the profound nature of reality. The interplay of light and shadow in my work is pivotal as a technique and a foundation. It reflects the inherent duality of life, where joy and sorrow are entwined, and beauty blooms even in despair.

My art reflects this duality, a testament to the beauty that emerges from contrasts and gradients. Light pierces through darkness, blurring the boundaries between the visible and the hidden, the tangible and the intangible.

These images are not mere visuals; they are gateways to a deeper understanding, inviting the viewer to explore the depths of the image and its meaning.

Similarly, I often obscure the delineation between object and space. In the garden, a tree may stand out, yet it is nothing without the space that encases it, the soil that nourishes it, and the light that energizes it.

My art attempts to capture this. By softening the edges where forms meet space, I encourage a fluid perception reminiscent of how fog envelops a mountain, each element enhancing but also merging with the other.

The concept of completion and incompletion in my work directly reflects nature's teachings. Just as a bud is not a symbol of incompletion but a step towards a new phase of existence, my pieces often leave spaces open and details suggested rather than fully defined.

This approach not only sparks the imagination but also mirrors the perpetual state of becoming in the natural world. It underscores the idea that both art and life are continuous processes; they evolve, they transform, and they are never truly finished.

In every piece, I work to encapsulate the essence of nature's teachings—the beauty of its rhythms, the poetry of its cycles, and the deep, intrinsic connections it fosters.

For me, the creative process becomes a meditative practice, a way to connect more deeply with the world and express its ineffable truths.

- Sokei