Rieko Fujinami: Artist Statement

It’s a characteristic of the contemporary world, that in the midst of daily activity
we can suddenly feel isolated and anxious; questioning own existence and our future.
Extraordinary circumstances like war, natural disaster, or accident, can turn our personal
identities, thoughts and histories into mere numbers of dead and injured reported on the
evening news. Gradually all memory of the real human being disappears, leaving only the
anonymous numbers and photographs in an old newspaper.

Even in ordinary day-by-day life we hope that someone will be able to see past the differences
in our physical traits of age, gender, ethnicity and recognize our original existence and
real mind and voice, as found in the Zen Master’s question “What was your face before you were born?”
We ask ourselves “Will anyone remember me when I’m gone?” and wonder what will be remembered.
We look for a deep affinity with another person, but it is very difficult because everyone
has a mask constructed for their roles in society such as parent, spouse, child, or job position.

As I look at the faces around me, I see many faces come out of the same person as their thoughts
and moods, excitement and repose come and go. I’m amazed to find in the face of a tough man,
the momentary face of a gentle old woman, a wise old man beaming from the face of a small girl,
or the flash of hidden anger suddenly revealed in the face of a timid soul.

I try get behind the mask, to capture that anonymous ingrained essence in my work.
One reason I have chosen etchings and frescos as my prime media is because of the
strength of copper and plaster as I struggle to make my marks. Water and acid work
over time, and time allows for the essence, and the unconscious feelings, to come to the surface.

Sometimes I find that the symbols of universal memory, and of the human condition,
can only be sufficiently anonymous and generalized by moving from the human face
to the exploration of plants as I have done most recently in the Locus series of etchings.