Zen Garden

Full, View #1 

Full, View #2

Full, View #3

Detail #1

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Zen Garden

Watercolor Paper, Copy Paper, Wood Glue 

10" x 9.5"

The most famous of these, perhaps, is the garden at Ryōanji, which calls to mind a vast ocean dotted by small islands, or Daisen-in, which features a stone waterfall “pouring” into a vigorously flowing mountain river. The use of rocks as the dominant feature of the garden has both historical and aesthetic origins.

https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/cultivating-enlightenment-the-manifold-meaning-of-japanese-zen-gardens/

The torii gate has been a symbol of life, growth, vitality, protection, and renewal for thousands of years. In the Shinto religion, it is believed that all people are inherently good and that if someone is evil, that is because of evil spirits.

https://diluo.digital.conncoll.edu/Asianart/editors-pick/torii-gates-in-japan-and-japanese-religion/#:~:text=The%20torii%20gate%20has%20been,is%20because%20of%20evil%20spirits.

The sculpture is a response to the Zen garden at Ryōan-ji (15th century) and the woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai (1830s). The raked gravel and island-like stones of Ryōan-ji inspired my layered paper rocks, flowing waterfall, and use of rhythm and repetition to suggest movement through a symbolic landscape. Hokusai’s towering torii gates influenced my focal point and guided my use of proportion and vertical emphasis to represent transition and renewal. Together, these works shaped my decisions to balance organic forms with structured elements, creating a paper environment rooted in the history and visual language of Japanese art.

In Process #1

In Process #2

In Process #3

In Process #4

Fragile Luxuries

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View #4

View #5

Object 1

Object 2

Objects 3 and 4

Fragile Luxuries 

Cardboard, Duck Tape, Red Fabric, Watercolor Paper,

12" x 3"

This sculpture visually communicates ideas about desire, constructed identity, and the quiet collapse that occurs beneath the surface of constant consumption. I designed the box and its objects to appear luxurious at first glance, while revealing tension, fragility, and self-reflection upon closer inspection. The black exterior and red interior create a luxurious look at first, but the contrast reveals a tension between outward composure and inner unrest, setting the tone for a story shaped by temptation and consequence.

Inside the box, the designer-inspired cards symbolize the illusion of status and how identity often becomes linked to material objects. A crumpled receipt covered in urgent handwritten text shows the chaotic cycle of impulse and regret, transforming an everyday object into a record of an emotional rollercoaster. The glass jars show two forms of containment: one protects a green ribbon, hinting at small desires that grow, while the other holds glitter in cracked glass, showing how beauty can break under pressure.

Both jars sit within a mirrored compartment that force the viewer to confront their own reflection, revealing the personal nature of consumption and the way self-image is shaped by external objects. Through the arrangement of materials, cardboard, duct tape, paper, glass, mirrors, and fabric, I sought to capture the fragile balance between aspiration and inner conflict and express how desire for material things can gradually take over, guiding our actions and shaping identity.

In Process

Research

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/nyregion/celebrating-fluxus-a-movement-that-didnt-create-by-the-rules-review.html

Artist Inspiration

https://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Fluxus%20Box%20Artists

Notes

Movie: Confessions of a Shopaholic

I started by identifying the key themes in the movie; desire, overspending, glamour, and the pressure to maintain a certain image.

My process began with selecting materials that felt both ordinary and symbolic. I chose jars, mirrors, paper, and faux credit cards because they could visually express ideas about control, temptation, and the emotional side of consumerism.

I experimented with how each object should feel physically. For example, I wrote all over the receipt to make it look chaotic and to show internal dialogue. I also painted cracks on the glitter jar on purpose to capture how something beautiful can break under pressure.

Building the box itself became part of the message. I kept the outside clean and dark but used a bright red interior so the inside felt more intense, suggesting the contrast between outward appearance and inner tension, while keeping the box as a whole looking very luxurious.

Throughout the process, I thought about how the viewer would interact with the box. Adding mirrors created a moment of self-reflection, connecting the viewer to the themes and making the piece more personal.