For the past few years I’ve produced the works with a motif of bamboo, which can be associated with Japan.
The soaring stalks and regular joints are really beautiful. Moreover, bamboo is considered to be an auspicious plant because it grows very fast and straight upwards. So it has been the traditional subject of paintings in Japan.
I think the distinctive characteristics of bamboo are even more attractive in monochrome images using the modern techniques of photography.
I've been trying to get close image to Suiboku-ga (Japanese ink painting).
One day I tried to change the monochrome photo of the lit up bamboo forest into black/white inverted image, then the black background turned to white space and suddenly appeared a fantastic scene like Suiboku-ga.
These works are made with this method. Reversing black/white results in rebirth of the works. There seems to be an element of yin-yang.
