For years I have been creating artwork on the theme of Cosmic Tree. The inspiration behind this theme is from vivid, memorable dreams I had back in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Among them there was one that was most memorable. In this dream I was in the center of universe surrounded by zillions of whirling orbs which I later thought were suns and stars. With an immense energy which I felt while dreaming, these orbs streamed like currents toward the center where nebulous, ever-changing tree like form stood. Afterward, after spending many thoughts on this dream, I came to see the universe rather romantically and metaphorically as an ever moving, ever transforming tree. A Cosmic Tree in which suns and stars are its fruits and flowers lighting and coloring the infinite sky; and invisible lines of gravity- its trunks, branches and roots that hold this heavenly Tree.

Because I do not see the necessity to recapture the dream of the Cosmic Tree, in works that deals with this theme, I do not attempt to visualize my dream realistically but create original forms and visual compositions inspired from it. Besides sculpture, the inspiration has manifested in a variety of art media- installations, paintings, drawings and even an illustrated story in a verse form titled, “Vision of the Cosmic Tree”. With sculptures, I have been depicting Cosmic Tree symbolically as an organic, often plant-like form colored with spiraling patterns resembling stars and galaxies. Though in a dream, the Cosmic Tree is boundless and ever changing, as a concrete sculptural form, I have tried to create shapes that are fascinating and in spirit, a talisman in nature. Simply put, Cosmic Trees are my version of Christmas tree that hopefully, brighten viewers who see it.

Kanetaka Ikeda