Artist Statement
I am an object maker. Sometimes I start with an idea. I’ll objectify it out of a raw material such as steel, bronze, and/or wood. At other times, I’ll start with a found object, such as an exceptionally beautiful branch which I then incorporate into a sculpture to create a piece that is uniquely mine. This process of creating can occur in a moment or take months to come to fruition. This is the magic of making art.
My art can be categorized into four themes: examining nature, searching for identity, telling stories, and expressing through geometric form.
Examining the natural world I can find endless examples of surprising symbiotic relationships. The process of seeing and discovering inspires me to create forms that capture the essence of our precarious existence on the planet. In these works, I strive to reveal the mystery of humanity’s vital relationship with the environment.
My mother is Japanese and my father is Chinese-American. I grew up in a white community that always made me feel like an outsider. Much of my work serves as a sounding board for questions that I feel compelled to examine and address dealing with my identity.
Classical mythology and folktales provide rich sources with which to create narrative tropes. Storytelling provides understanding and guidance; it allays our fears and answers our questions.
These themes all ultimately converge to create my art, which I hope proves to be captivating, timeless, and thought provoking.
