Black Cat / Mazu Shirumono/ It Knows, 2020

Sumi-ink cinnabar on paper

24 x 12 x 2 in.

Black Cat / It Knows (Shirumono) is one panel of the diptych Black Cat / White Cat, whose counterpart is White Cat / Yume Utsutsu / Between Dreams. The diptych developed from a single paired set of preparatory drawings that I created as the conceptual foundation for the series. From these same drawings, I later produced another distinct diptych, exploring how variations in mounting and material could transform atmosphere and perception.
Although I do not usually create multiple works from the same drafts, I returned to these drawings to investigate how material presence alters meaning. In this version, I used long-fibered unryu paper, whose textured surface produces a more complex tonal field and subtle shifts of light.
While my imagery moves between abstraction and figuration, a constant in my practice is the use of materials closely connected to nature: sumi ink, bamboo brushes, mineral pigments, and earthen colors used in traditional Japanese painting. These materials ground the work in physical presence and tactile depth.
The diptych draws upon a classical waka poem from the Kokinshu, layering the phrase "warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru" ("happiness comes to those who smile") with the cyclical truth that after tears, laughter returns. The black cat embodies intuitive knowledge-an awareness that precedes language-standing at the threshold between dream and waking.
Throughout my work, I explore the relationship between nature and human consciousness, and the apparent contrast between eternity and the fleeting moment, revealing them as expressions of the same continuous reality.

Courtesy of Fumiyo Yoshikawa