In early 2024, I received an invitation from Justin Lee, founder of a Japanese art residency program, which prompted me to search for information about Akita Prefecture. I found various photographs of farmland landscapes online, bringing back memories of rural farming. As someone living in the city, I hope to reflect on the relationship between nature and life by engaging in indoor planting.

This project takes the cultivation of three small plants from mainland China in a windowless studio as a starting point. Through observing and participating in the growth process of these plants, I explore the cycle and changes of life, as well as its vulnerability and impermanence.

Sketching is my most frequently used method of recording and finding inspiration. I capture the things I observe directly through my eyes and let the charcoal pencil flow on the paper. This wandering motion carries a sense of spontaneity and immediacy, creating an even more intimate atmosphere.

At first, I didn't notice the daily changes in the plants. They seemed to be more or less the same each day. However, one morning, I suddenly noticed that these plants had already borne fruit and the cycle of withering and regrowth was astonishingly brief, taking only half a day.

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Artist Sharing

Location: Akita International University

Date: 5 Nov 2024

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