This time, I'd like to talk about the "forests" depicted in the modern art pieces that have been gradually accumulating in my home, one per year.

Surrounded by a "Forest" Without Realizing It

"Do you prefer the sea or the mountains?"
When asked that, I've made it a habit to answer immediately, "Mountains!"

In fact, during my university days, I dabbled a bit in surfing and yachting, but I never got so absorbed that I neglected sleep or meals.
In the end, I ended up quitting halfway through (laughs).
So, after 44 years of life, my interim conclusion is that I don't have much of a connection with the sea.

On the other hand, fly fishing, which has become my life's work, involves venturing into the mountains to create dramatic moments.
I've been doing it for about 15 years now, and it's become a solid part of my life's rhythm.
Also, I find I can sleep much more soundly and relax better on the stones scattered along the rivers deep in the mountains than on the beautiful beaches by the sea.
This is a realization that comes from experience.
Moreover, rather than the sea, where you don't know what creatures might surface and where you can't touch the bottom,
I swim much better in rivers where I can feel the solid ground beneath me (perhaps due to the sense of security???).

That feeling, that tendency, is confirmed by the words of friends and family who visit my home and see my collection of modern art, photos, and paintings: "Wow, it's so refreshing to be surrounded by so much forest!"
This was the deciding factor.
I finally recognized that I am indeed a "mountain" person.

Without consciously thinking about it, the things I've bought simply because I found them appealing were, in fact, all related to "forests" and "trees."
Perhaps this is a kind of "consciousness within the unconscious."

A Single "Forest" Painting, an Encounter with an Artist

My "forest" collection began with the painting at the very top of this page.

The urban contrast of red and black, and the sense of déjà vu it evokes, making the viewer feel as if they've seen this landscape before, even if only vaguely.
It's modern yet somehow nostalgic. I bought it five years ago because I loved its indescribable, mysterious atmosphere. It's a work by New York-based artist,
Graham Parkes, titled "it's light that makes the intervals."
Graham Parkes and his girlfriend Erica, who visited Japan last month. Every time I meet and talk with them, I grow fonder of their warm personalities and consistently stoic approach. His latest work shows a shift towards a more organic style, revealing a new artistic realm. We promised to meet again in New York at the end of the year.

I first learned about him six years ago at the FEIGEN CONTEMPORARY gallery in New York's SoHo.

It was the dead of winter in New York, and as dusk approached in SoHo, we were gallery hopping. We entered this gallery just before closing and encountered a painting.

It possessed a mysterious quality that not only warmed our chilled bodies but also left a very cool impression. Curious about the work, I approached a gallery staff member.
"He's actually here right now, so why don't you ask him directly?"
And so, I found myself face-to-face with Graham himself.
"Where is the place that inspired this painting?"
Considering the gallery was about to close (laughs), I asked him directly.
He replied, "Where do you think it is?"
I then said, "You know, I have a memory of seeing this place somewhere before. Could it be Yoyogi Park in Tokyo?"
Hearing this, Graham broke into a wide smile.
"I'm glad you think so. Actually, it's a small forest in my hometown, Washington. But I believe it's wonderful when people see it and imagine their own forests, feeling a sense of nostalgia."

As we talked, he led us to where his works were stored in the basement and explained each one carefully. He even showed us his creative process!
Normally, artists keep their studios private, and it's unheard of for them to reveal their secrets to someone they've just met (laughs).
I was completely captivated by the personality of Graham, who was then 26 years old, appearing fragile and somewhat timid. I immediately felt a strong desire to own this painting!
However, it was the last day of my trip, and I had very little cash on hand, and the gallery didn't accept credit cards.
When I told him, "I want it, but I can't buy it this time,"
he said, "Well, I have a representative in Japan, so I can introduce you."
He then gave me the contact for GALLERY MIN MIN in Japan.
Later, although it wasn't the exact same painting, I purchased this work, which also evokes a forest image.

Since then, we've become email friends (laughs), and I've met him about three times at receptions for his exhibitions in Japan at GALLERY MIN MIN.
At his new exhibition, which ran until the 11th of this month, I met him again after about three years, along with his girlfriend Erica, with whom he always appears so close.
Graham is truly a "good guy," someone who marches to the beat of his own drum.

The "Forest" Connects Us All

After purchasing Graham Parkes's work, my own unconscious collection of "forest"-themed art began.

"Shadows by Ofer Geva" displays various expressions depending on the intensity of light in the morning and evening against a super-white wall.
I particularly love the way a single tree, illuminated by candlelight late at night, seems to sway and change its appearance.

Five years ago, I bought this at an unnamed gallery, "The Future Perfect," in Brooklyn, New York, during a return visit.
This is it.
The work, "Shadows by Ofer Geva," involves sandwiching photographic negatives between mounts, creating a space between the frame and the negative. When light hits it from the outside, the branches of a tree are projected as a shadow play onto the surface beneath.
The idea was so intriguing that I couldn't help but buy it (laughs).

Unfortunately, the actual piece I purchased is covered in glass, making it difficult to photograph properly (crying). I'm introducing it here via a photo book.
DANIEL GUSTAV CRAMER, who is apparently a professor of photography at an art university, captures photographs that convey a profound sense of stillness, as if waiting for a moment in the depths of an untouched forest.
Standing before these large works, I felt a truly refreshing breeze on my cheeks.

Two years ago, while staying in Milan for a collection, I encountered DANIEL GUSTAV CRAMER at the "Carla Sozzani Gallery" within 10 Corso Como. The exhibition title was precisely "WOODLAND."
I wanted to buy a large framed piece, but due to space constraints at home (laughs), I ended up purchasing a small-sized photograph.
I visited the gallery for about three days whenever I had free time, exchanging brief words with the gallery staff.
"Even though I'm right in the middle of trends, standing here in front of these forest photos makes me feel nostalgic and brings a refreshing breeze, like I've returned to childhood. I almost forget about trends (laughs)."
When I said this, a seasoned female staff member replied with a smile,
"Carla would surely be happy to hear that. That's what art is all about."
In Milan, the fashion capital, I was able to spend such a gentle time in front of this artwork.

Min Ogishima, a photographer I often work with for fashion shoots at LEON, said he instinctively pressed the shutter button while in the car due to the sheer beauty of the scene.
This photograph conveys a natural beauty and a pure sense of wonder.

This photograph by Min Ogishima, a photographer I often work with for fashion shoots at LEON, was taken from a car while driving through London's Hyde Park.
When I went to his office for a meeting, I fell in love at first sight with this photo displayed on the wall.
I asked him to print it, frame it, and he even gave it to me! It's a fortunate piece.
This is a piece that showcases Ogishima's future potential and artistic sensibility, transcending the realm of fashion photography.

And this month, a work titled "Puzzle #4" by Satoshi Otsuka, an emerging artist affiliated with "hiromiyohii Gallery," which I discovered at an art fair held at the Tokyo International Forum last month, will adorn my home walls.
Among the many galleries participating in the fair, this piece captivated me the most and led to my purchase. The artist deconstructed and fragmented a photograph of a road stretching to the horizon, parallel trees he encountered on a trip to Lithuania, and a vibrant red sunset taken from an airplane. He then reassembled these fragmented images onto a STAEDTLER ruler, editing them anew – a process akin to David Hockney's work.
Meeting the artist himself at the fair and having the opportunity to discuss his work was also a significant factor in my decision to purchase.
I was once again drawn to the artist's sincere approach to his art.

I asked the gallery to seal the artwork, which is over one meter wide, in an acrylic case.
The clear transparency emanating from the artwork is further enhanced by the crystal-clear case, creating a super-cool effect!

The "Forest" and "Trees" Heal Me

In Momoko Kono's recent book, "Spiritual Detox" (published by Bungeishunju), there was this passage:

With trees, we can live in resonance with the life that inhabits them.
With trees, we can share water, earth, and the light that filters through their leaves.
Trees have undoubtedly nurtured the delicate sensibilities of the Japanese people, and by living alongside them,
they have shown us the continuity of life stretching back to ancient times.

Japan, where everything one desires is available, is super convenient and safe, which is cool, but...
I truly believe that Japan, a land of Yaoyorozu (eight million gods), where divinity resides in each element of its rich nature, is truly wonderful.
I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to enjoy such nature.

While I don't intend to undergo a "spiritual detox,"
I find myself venturing into forests, casting a fishing line in rivers, and napping.

I like flower shops and occasionally buy flowers to bring home.
I also find myself surprisingly enjoying the moments when I water the plants on my balcony.

Although I never consciously set out to do so,
I have, without realizing it, acquired and decorated my room with art pieces
featuring "forests" and "trees."
There's no doubt that the "forest" and the "trees" within it heal me.

As I commute to work by car, the vast green mountains that unfold before me as I gaze out the window,
are the Imperial Palace, a power spot in the city.
Lately, I find myself inexplicably drawn to this sacred forest.