Tears of the Monastery #4

Materials and techniques

Collage of receipts, beeswax, paraffin, toner ink, and dammars resin on wooden panel

Production year

2025

　Everyday casual actions consume a variety of things, and if you notice it, you may feel like nothing is left on your hands, and time that passes simply fades away. But is there really “nothing left”? Even the small choices and actions we repeat have the potential to turn into valuable memories over time. At the same time, even a small act can have a big impact on the future. This is the result of a lot of time, like the process in which wine matures to create a deep flavor. I believe that the value of art is also shaped by the accumulation of such time. What are we wasting, what are we consuming, and what are we sublimating. All of those choices have already begun maturing to shape the future.

[Mirror] series

　This series [mirror/mirage] is a term coined by the artist with the two meanings of “mirror/mirror” and “mirage/mirage,” and it is an important theme. VIKI refers to her work as a mirror reflecting the viewer. In other words, it is expressed as a “mirror” reflecting our times. However, a “mirror” is a virtual image that shows an inverted expression or part of oneself that you want to see. Also, “mirage,” which has another meaning, is a phenomenon that does not occur unless conditions are met, and the image that was visible collapses when you get close. The [mirror] attached in this sense is the very expression of the era seen by VIKI using receipts, which are symbols of consumption.