Buddhist Gate, ink on paper, 15cm x 20cm, $1000
In Japan, happy, life-giving rituals are typically performed at Shinto shrines. Contrastingly, sad, death related rituals are usually performed in Buddhist temples. There is a beautiful opposition here that I wanted to explore.
I created a diptych that expresses the beauty in the two religions and their functions in the Japanese culture along with popular cultural symbols of characteristics.
In this piece two maple bonsai trees are trimmed to look like a Buddhist temple entrance gate. The maple tree is known to symbolize death, as its leaves turn red and fall each winter.