~Big Forest ~

The eternal theme of Morihiro Okamoto is "Big Forest = Greatly Expanded Nature."

 

When I first began painting, I spent my days exploring and searching for my artistic direction. One day, I came across the life of Kūkai (774–835), the founder of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism. This discovery led me to visit Kōyasan and Tō-ji Temple in Kyoto, where I had the opportunity to experience Kūkai's historical legacy firsthand.

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Inside the solemn lecture hall, I encountered the Three-Dimensional Mandala, and upon seeing the fangs of the Fudō Myō-ō statue, I was reminded of the stag beetles I had been raising for some time.

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In that moment, I found a source that sparked my imagination. Inspired by the connection between life and the universe, I developed my own distinctive style—one that blends vivid colors with organic natural hues.

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In my paintings, the "tree (mandala)" contains the image of a stag beetle pupa, symbolizing immature life. This also represents the presence of Fudō Myō-ō and marks the beginning of my artistic exploration of "the sacred grove (the universe)."

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The cracks within ancient trees are depicted as symbols of the "Forest," while the pupae breathing within them embody "Big Forest = Greatly Expanded Nature." I continue to depict this theme in my work.

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