Shimogamo Shrine: Gateway (ALC-111)

The open gate welcome us into a sacred area. The light grey gravel and a featureless cloudy sky act as “yohaku,” or open space, and thus help to enhance the surrounding trees and structures. The mid-section of this image is white sky, giving it an infinite depth. The insect-eaten leaves create rhythmical, playful patterns and colors that complement the empty sky. There is a small gap between a leaf and the edge of the image that allows our eyes to gracefully glide through. Both the solidity and the fragility of the corporeal world are harmoniously represented in this composition.