Artist Statement

Introduction

Hello! Thank you very much for visiting my website. Here is a brief summary of who I am. 🤗

  • I love drawing and painting. 

  • I am a calligrapher.

  • I am a pianist.

  • I know how to use abacus. 

  • I am a cook and baker ( I have license to teach them)

  • I am a nature lover, but I hate bugs.

  • I have studied 7 foreign languages, and I am a translator. 

  • I love traveling, and I have been to 15 countries.

  •  I have training in tea ceremony, and I love matcha. 

  • I love trying new cuisine from all over the world. 

  • I love cats.

     

  • I am a photographer, and I know how to make my own cameras. 

But most importantly, 

  • I love making friends from all over the world, and I would love to get to know you! 

So, whether you are interested in a portrait session or anything else, let’s start our conversation today!  

All My Varied Art Experience- Art and Mathematics

Since I was a small child, I have always been a curious child, and I have always wanted to learn new things, especially art. I started going to drawing, calligraphy, and piano schools when I was a kindergartner, and I continued these lessons for about 15 years or so. 

I received hundreds of awards for my drawing and calligraphy, both locally and nationally as a child. I was awarded the highest level in calligraphy, and I was also awarded with one of the highest levels in abacus. Both drawing and abacus lessons enhanced my mental visualization skills, because I learned how to draw based on my imagination. I also learned to visualize mental calculations and mathematics by imagining the abacus and movement of the stones for the calculation. 

Among all of my artistic activities, playing the piano was my most favorite. Whether it was a graduation ceremony or school chorus competitions, in both elementary and junior high school, I was always the one who would play the piano in front of all other students and their parents. I loved playing the piano so much, because it allowed me to express myself and my emotions. 

I learned various forms of discipline from these artistic activities. Both abacus and piano lessons taught me the disciplines of long hours of practice, long-periods concentration, and absolute accuracy. I learned other forms of discipline lessons from my calligraphy teacher, a female Buddhist monk who conducted classes in a temple. Those lessons were to discipline my behavior and proper etiquette. 

Another area of art which I started learning in my adolescence that influenced me was tea ceremony. Nowadays, I see the Japanese word 侘寂 (Wabi Sabi) being used so frequently. But my belief is that not many Japanese people have actually experienced how to conduct a tea ceremony or have learned 茶道 (the Spirit of the Way of the Tea). Many hours of practicing tea ceremony and discipline were other crucial influences that spiritually contributed to who I am as an artist today. 

Linguistic Expertise and Being Cosmopolitan - Translator of Languages

Studying languages and foreign studies have strongly contributed to my artistic style. I have a BA in Foreign Studies where I studied English, French, and German, and I have studied a total of 7 foreign languages. I am an EIKEN Grade 1 holder, which is the highest level of the standardized practical English exam in Japan. It is a highly respected and prestigious qualification endorsed by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

I learned the art of human communication between people from different cultures, and I also have work experience as an interpreter and translator.

I see the work of translation as an art because good translation has to go beyond the literal meaning. It must dive into the context and cultures. To me, translation is about creating something new: a bridge between different cultures so that people can understand each other. 

I have lived in many different places outside Japan, and I have been to about 15 different countries. I have a unique cultural background and an international perspective. I have different ideas and points of view that are uniquely Oriental and Western. As my friend once told me, I can become two completely different persons depending on whether I am communicating in Japanese or English, because I can change my mode of communication and my behavior depending on which language I am using. I can switch between the two perspectives easily because it is a fusion of both the Orient and the West.


My Meaning In Photography - Translator of Light

Using my parents’ camera, I started taking pictures when I was young during my elementary school years. Soon, I was obsessed with photography. I felt that photography allowed me to express myself with no one judging me. In order to take a picture, I didn't have to know how to read music sheet, I didn't have to know how to use abacus, or I didn't have to know any rules about tea ceremony. Just one click and that was all it took.

As a child that seemed like magic, and something in my mind clicked. Of course, now I have a great understanding of the history of photography, and I know that photography took a great deal of innovation and development to get where it is today. I already had been an enthusiastic photographer for more than 20 years, but since my passion for photography has grown stronger over the years, I decided to go back to school to more seriously pursue learning about photography.

The foundation of photography is science: physics, chemistry, and mathematics. And as an artist, I apply and translate these scientific knowledge in order to execute and create my artistic visions, intentions, or emotions. Just like brushes are my tools when I paint or do calligraphy, photographers’ tool is light. And I consider myself a translator of light just like I translate languages. I say this because I utilize my scientific knowledge about light in order to translate it into my artistic vision in my photographic works.

I graduated from Salt Lake Community College with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Visual Art & Design with a Photography Emphasis, and I graduated with a distinguished honor conferred on only one student in each School per year: the Provost Graduate of Excellence for the School of Arts, Communication and Media.

I am truly confident in my skills, craft and knowledge as a photographer and an artist.

Taking pictures for me is a means of self-expression. Most of the time when I take pictures, it is when something touches or moves my heart. In a way, my photographic work is a representation of myself and how my mind sees the world. Who I am today is deeply influenced by all these artistic activities from my childhood. And I integrated all of my knowledge and life experience to create my photographic works. 

I take pictures for myself; to understand and express a part of who I am, what interests me, and how I see the world around me. I take pictures for other people; to share the beauty I find and also how I see the world.

 Photography is my voice to speak, and a bridge that connects me with the people and the world around me.


In the End

I find beauty in imperfection.

Cherry blossoms are beautiful because they bloom only for a short period of time. They are beautiful because they are so fragile. And even when the flowers are dying or decaying, they are beautiful. And even when there are no flowers, I still see the tree as beautiful because I can visualize the silk, pink and white flowers blooming again next year. 

This is not only true of cherry blossom. It is about everything. In my photography, and in all of my art,  I find and embrace beauty in every imperfection. 



BIO 

· Kobe City University of Foreign Studies -  Received BA in English with Minor in French and German.  

· Durham Technical Community College - Studied photography as continuing education.

· Duke University - Studied photography as continuing education.

· Salt Lake Community College - Received Associate of Applied Science degree in Visual Art & Design with Photography Emphasis.  

· Professional Photographers of America - Earned Certified Professional Photographer

EXHIBITION 

·Kobe Photographer’s Exhibition - Kobe in 2014 

· Duke I-House Photo Exhibit (Solo) - NC in 2016 and 2017

· The Carrack’s 5th Birthday at Community Show - NC in 2016

 ·The National Arts Program Exhibit - NC in 2016

· Nature Photography Exhibit - NC in 2017 

· SLCC President’s Artshow - UT in 2017 

· SLCC Student Artshow - UT in 2018, 2019, and 2020



ACCOMPLISHMENTS

·Received SLCC Student’s Art Show Award of Merit (2018)

·Awarded First Prize at Tracy Aviary Photo Safari Contest (2018)

·Received Honorable Mention at International Photography Awards (2021)

·Published in multiple FOLIO Magazine

·Inducted into PHI THETA KAPPA Honor Society

·2019, 2020 SLCC “Pride in Academics” Recipient

·Graduated from SLCC with a distinguished honor 

  “Provost’ Graduate of Excellence for School of Arts, Communication and Media”

· Professional Photographers of America Member  

 

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