The divine in life

The primary medium of Ayumi Shibata’s (Yokohama) work is paper, as well as the connection between its Japanese word, kami, and the homophone used to generally refer to “deities” within Japanese culture. These entities and spirits reside in the elements of nature or are, themselves, some of these elements. They move freely through time, places, and the universe. They appear or simply become part of spaces. They inhabit the sky, the earth, and the wind, just as they can inhabit various objects, whether natural, such as rocks, or even human creations, such as tools. As one might expect, these spirits also inhabit paper.

From this spiritual dimension, Shibata chooses white-toned papers, associating the color with an idea of purity, and, through kiri-e technique, a traditional Japanese method of paper cutting, she creates installations that seek to emphasize the delicate relationship maintained by human beings with the environment. The cuts and shapes she creates are fine and sensitive. This same fragility is seen in the threads that support the artwork, conveying a unique delicacy.

Poetry of Life expresses this consideration, as it is a work made from layers connected by thin threads. The artist views each small cut-out piece as a cell, demonstrating the varied composition of a living being. When the work is assembled and disassembled, it is as if this life was being extinguished to transform into another matter, in an infinite and vibrant cycle. Associated with the mirror, the paper structure reaches new dimensions and perspectives. The lighting, in turn, creates a divine pillar, as if this light were within the matter.