Going through the mangrove swamp. Print

Japanese artist born and raised in Tokyo, lives and works in Seattle, US. Burns mainly works in mixed media painting, expressing how her internal world synchronizes with the external environment in her semi-abstract works. "My art is about sensations and emotions. I draw beauty that I admire and feelings that I want to set free. Interesting finds are captured, and random moments overlap. I picture a scene again for the first time, as if it's a flashback that has never happened before. My art is into where my perception, thoughts, observation, and discoveries overflow. The internal and outer world intersect, mutually influencing each other. Depicting my own perspective on living, the visions are very personal, but could belong to anyone. I am charmed by contrasts such as appearance and disappearance, stillness and movement, and changing and everlasting. My core theme is to capture the states as duality in coexistence, where the contrasts don't oppose each other, but oscillate in-between. It connects to an ephemeral yet powerful sense of impermanence. In that world, sorrow and aches also dwell within beauty and joyousness. Perhaps like in a perfume; where the composition of various elements, ranging from euphoric floral scents to a slight compound of skatole create a balanced and harmonious aroma. An intangible yet certain essence lies in the meld, that I call the rawness of existence, and I urge to grasp through my art. My art can be a sanctuary. It doesn't persuade you, but may reflect your feelings. It shows you an unidentified world or makes you recall familiar moments. It doesn't force answers on you, but exists with you while searching for them, whether in a sincere or playful, nonsensical way. Art is my form of prayer, and it may also be yours. - Emi Burns