Artist Statement
Some secrets are meant to be shared, remembered, and never repeated. Every family harbors secrets, from minor white lies whispered at family gatherings to profound truths with generational significance. One such secret in my family—one my parents rarely discussed and which fueled my curiosity—was that they were American citizens unjustly interned during World War II.
Through my art, I explore and honor their experience and illuminate this forgotten chapter in history. My current watercolor series pays tribute to how my parents and the 120,000 Japanese Americans interned during the war endured with such dignity and courage. My meditative and minimal watercolor paintings strive to capture the patience and fluidity they demonstrated — qualities central to achieving the highest fulfillment, as described in the Tao.
Using a monochrome palette of blue, reddish, and greenish-black, I create layers of overlapping shapes, reflecting the transparency of each successive layer. My painting process also demands patience, as I apply only one layer of paint per day, with some paintings accumulating over 40 layers over six months.
These are the words from the Tao Te Ching which serve as my inspiration:
“They were careful as someone crossing an iced-over stream.
Alert as a warrior in enemy territory. Courteous as a guest.
Fluid as melting ice. Shapeable as a block of wood.
Receptive as a valley. Clear as a glass of water.
Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear?
Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?”