M A N A M I    I S H I M U R A     

untittled

 

The tree on which the lines of glue were put

86”Hx 47”Wx 43”D

2011 November 

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            My works represent the existence between inanimate elements and living organisms; to me, this divide is obscure. For example, a seed is not regarded as life, yet it contains potential life. Once it sprouts, at some point the seed transitions into a living organism. As the process of living becomes visualized, we consider that it starts to be a life, yet this boundary is unclear. The division between categories of non-life and life appears through the dynamic energy transfer, like the sprouting of a plant. This dynamism is the essence of existence.

            To focus on this dynamism, I use artificial, inanimate materials that transition between liquid and solid. Like the transition from a seed to a sprout, the interval of between solidification and melting embodies the dynamic boundary between emptiness and substance. The repetitive movements of my hands as I draw with this plastic generate a liminal state similar to the practice of meditation. The works in my studio practice represent efforts to respect and appreciate the essence of existence.