The Wellspring of the Seasons

S100 (162 × 162 cm)

This painting stands at the center of my artistic practice.

Born in Hokkaido and shaped by years living in Vancouver, my work explores the relationship between nature, memory, and the seasonal rhythms that connect distant landscapes.

In both regions, life is defined by water.
Rivers carry salmon upstream, while forests sustain deer, bears, and birds. Entire ecosystems move in harmony with the changing seasons.

At the center of the painting stands a deer — a quiet guardian between worlds.

The composition brings together two contrasting forces.
On the left, the vibrant energy of the North American wilderness.
On the right, the restrained stillness rooted in Japanese aesthetics.

Between them flows a golden waterfall.
From this source, salmon begin their ascent — a symbol of return, endurance, and renewal.

Day and night.
East and West.
Silence and movement.

Water changes with the seasons, and with it the rhythm of life.

“The Wellspring of the Seasons” reflects the landscapes and cultural currents that shaped me.