Arashiyama

Arashiyama

  • 36 x 30 in

This acrylic painting, accented with china pen, on cradled board explores the interplay between memory and place, drawing inspiration from time spent in Arashiyama, outside Kyoto. Known for its bamboo groves, forested mountains, and cultural landmarks like temples, shrines, and villages, Arashiyama exists at the intersection of nature and human presence—a duality I wanted to explore through abstraction. It was awarded Honorable Mention Teravarna 10th Open Art Competition. Using a soft, layered palette of greens, muted pastels, and earth tones, the work avoids literal representation, instead emphasizing the fluidity of memory and how we reconstruct landscapes in our minds. The addition of china pen linework introduces dynamic, gestural marks that suggest pathways, boundaries, and fleeting details, speaking to the fragmented, layered way we experience and remember spaces. This painting aligns with a contemporary focus on the relationship between environment and human intervention, questioning the boundaries between natural and cultural landscapes. The abstracted forms and interconnected shapes invite viewers to navigate the work as they would a map—imagining their own movement through the space. Ultimately, the piece examines how personal and collective histories inform our connection to landscapes, offering a space for reflection on the coexistence of tradition, nature, and modern life.

May, 2024
Mixed Media
Honorable Mention Teravarna 10th Open Art Competition

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