~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.
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.
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.
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)."
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.