Technique: This series Truth in Emotion - Beyond Time and Space is the combination of the mixed techniques with a solid concept. I often incorporate text, encaustic, oil, and Japanese paper, and own photographic images that I make. In this work, I also first created hand-painted silk and Japanese paper, sometimes using encaustic as a resist for the colors. The images in my work, for example, mountain, moon, bamboo, trees, textures of doors and walls, and cherry blossoms, may look as if they are from Japan, however, I intentionally used the materials from outside Japan such as New York City, Seattle and other places where I feel connected since I have lived or stayed more than just few days as a part of the journey of life; My photo images that appears partly in the work, which are Not just collage of printed images but archival pigment-ink-transfer, are actual evidence as I become a witness of our 21st century, conveying my series concept that depicts same emotions in different ‘time and space’. At the same time, I invested my own emotional content and imagination into these poems and works.

People today love and suffer just as the ancients did. Linked by our humanity, we face much of the same feelings and issues. It truly is beyond time and space.

   For this project, the collection of 7th-13th century Japanese poems (known as *Hyakunin Isshu: 100 poems by 100 authors) were re-written in calligraphy by my father, a calligraphy master in Japan (who passed away in the recent year) using specific ancient characters (the same as back in those centuries) on traditional Japanese paper. I then have been creating art layering and integrating BOTH ancient/traditional AND contemporary/hi-tech elements by combining encaustic that is an ancient medium and other medium as well as own photographic images in each unique piece in this series. This is also a search for harmony in photography, calligraphy and other medium.

For more information of this work:

https://misakooba.wordpress.com/2017/09/19/artist-in-residence-part-2/

Technique: Many layers of encaustic and the materials above with heating tools. Tar was also used to make brown color and the texture. As I continue working on the Stars and Desert series, the real sand from the desert in Utah and New Mexico State in the United States, which was a gift and has memories, was used in the art. It is related to disillusion that I experienced. 

We often have hope in our job, relationship, family, or other aspects in life. We strive for a fulfilled, happy life. However, we will never achieve everlasting, perfect satisfaction and may ultimately experience disillusion. Yet, there is still hope when seeking a different perspective. Layered computer-programming languages (codes) that correlate with the stars in this Stars and Desert series with a conceptual and philosophical approach.  

The definition of ‘Disillusioned’ is to be disappointed in someone or something that one discovers to be less good than one had believed. Or you believe something, but when you realize that was just an illusion.

This is a ten years project and currently ongoing series for me.

Because of the big project, the original artworks from this series are NOT available yet for purchase until summer 2021. The print and artbook will first become available this fall 2020.                               

This Part1: “Cry for LOVE- What Women Feel-” is based exclusively on desperate love poems/letters regarding women’s feeling by female authors, including three poems that were written by male authors who wrote from female perspective. I reflected those poems in heart with re-written calligraphy on rice paper. (In Total: 25 unique pieces completed in part 1)

The original meaning of the Japanese ancient poem #80 that you see in calligraphy –I translated:

“I don't know if your love will last long. After you left me this morning, I am feeling disturbed as if my long black hair disheveled…like the tangles.”