Dragon Silver Dragon
Under a cloudy sky with cherry blossoms drifting through the air
This work is an intensely poetic piece that takes as its starting point the primal landscape etched deep within the memory of the artist Kwaika, interweaving personal experience with universal imagery. As implied by the accompanying statement, UNDULATION’s expression is conceived as a wave emerging at the intersection of “natural laws” and “emotion.”
The dragon that appears on the screen is, on the one hand, a symbol of authority and spirituality in traditional Eastern art; on the other hand, it is reconstructed in this work as a more personal and introspective vision. In other words, it is an image of an indescribable “something” that the artist recalls witnessing as a child in the grounds of a shrine, beneath an overcast sky, while the cherry blossoms were in bloom.That ambiguous yet powerful impression transcends mere fantasy or imagination, continuing to influence the present as the core of a sensation that endures across time.
It is worth noting that this image of the dragon is never portrayed as an isolated mystical experience. It is always overlaid with the presence of a young mother standing by its side. The mother’s tenderness and warmth do not contrast with the transcendent being that is the dragon; rather, they serve to anchor it in reality. In other words, the dragon in this work is presented not as an object of fear or awe, but as an “intimate myth” born of memory and affection.
Furthermore, while the cherry blossom motifs that fill the screen are symbols of transience and seasonality widely shared in Japanese culture, in this work they serve not merely as decorative elements but as a device for visualizing the layers of time. The contrast between the blooming cherry blossoms and the overcast sky blurs the boundaries between clarity and uncertainty, reality and memory, inviting the viewer into the liminal space between past and present.
The concept of “UNDULATION,” which underlies Kwaika’s work, refers not only to physical waves but also to the very fluctuations of emotion and memory.In this work as well, the layers of time woven from the dynamic movement of a dragon, the fleeting atmosphere of falling cherry blossoms, and childhood memories create a sensation of constant fluctuation, even within still images. It is this very fluctuation that resonates with the viewer’s inner self, serving as a catalyst to evoke individual memories and emotions.
Consequently, this work is not merely a visual representation of memories, but rather a response to the question of “how personal memories can be transformed into universal imagery.” Through the interplay of the ancient symbol of the dragon, the physical memory of a mother’s warmth, and the cultural symbol of the cherry blossom, the work quietly resonates with the “unforgettable landscapes” that lie within each viewer.
Here, Kwaika does not simply present an indescribable experience as it is, but rather reconstructs it as a visual language, thereby opening it up to a realm where it can be shared with others. As a result, this work establishes a rare sensory space that is both deeply personal and universally accessible.
