Waves of Perception

This participatory installation (exhibited in Yui-Port Niigata and now in Mushizaki Storehouse, Sado Island Galaxy Art Festival) is primarily composed of reeds and fragments of my paintings.

I often go to the beach and have often wondered why there are so many bamboo-like sticks washed up on the shore. After research, understanding the history of the Shinano River’s floods, I realized that these are reed stems. Reeds help stabilize riverbanks and slopes. These reed stems from the Agano and Shinano rivers are washed into the Sea of Japan and then pushed back to the shore by the waves.

This curiosity led to deeper thoughts about the journey of water and its meaning. To capture these thoughts, I created an installation “Waves of Perception” using these reed stems found on the beach. They are also displayed with stones, shells found on the seashore, and barks used for fishing, each with its own story about water.

I invite visitors to write down their thoughts, feelings, opinions, and personal stories about water. Feel free to share the insights on notes and hang them on the installations.

This simple yet profound act will help to form a growing number of voices that will encourage people to think and discuss more deeply about our relationship with this precious resource. Together we will create “waves of perception” that powerfully remind us of the vital role water plays in our lives and our world.