Habitats
In what habitats do yugen-themed images thrive? While art representing the natural
world can “fit” into almost any space, artists—intentionally or not—often imbue their
work with qualities that work best in certain habitats. The portrayal of yugen in the
Ghost Flower Collection makes the images particularly appropriate for contemplative
and healing spaces and bring the freasheness of nature into the often stale
workspace.
Yugen in Sanctuaries
Before the Ghost Flowers Collection, I designed a series of haiga prints for the
personal sanctuary, where one goes to meditate, dream, nap, and imagine. The series
combined photographic images, calligraphy, and poems (personal haiku, or favorite
poems from the masters such as Robinson Jeffers). The haiga compositions provide
contemplative visuals for the tea room, mediation room, or personal study. In the
same way, the Ghost Flower Collection provides gateways to yugen for these special
environments, where the focus on florals brings calmness, mindfulness, and healing
thoughts for the attentive observer.
Ghost Flowers in Healing Spaces
When we visit friends who are in ill health, the most frequent gift is flowers. A
living plant in bloom or an arrangement of cut blossoms immediately changes the
perception of how we feel. Most medical facilities I’ve visited incorporate gardens and
green spaces within courtyards along with water features. These spaces have been
proven to lift spirits and energize patients as well as their visitors. Healthcare workers
benefit as well from breaks that unite them again with the living world.
Cosmic Poppy Burst
The touch of yugen in the Ghost Flower Collection can give a healing patient a
deeper connection with the visual benefits of blossoms. The larger than life intimate
portraits of flowers highlighting the walls of interior spaces, hallways, and rooms that
do not have the benefits of exterior views brings the mental refresh of the garden to
the patient. The hint of mystery in the Ghost Flowers keeps the eye from glossing
over the image, bringing the attention back to the natural world, and away from inner
pain and anxiety. The crisp details, often fading into shadow, provide a resting place
for the eye and a focal point for contemplation allowing the mind to ease away from
anxiety.
“Yugen is a reflection of our own vitality and mortality.”
Gilded Lilies Triptych 20x30”