Amaterasu

Amaterasu (2016) is a one-off photograph that was inspired by the Japanese goddess of the same name. In this guise, the artist refers to the story where the goddess hides in a cave after an argument with her brother, Susanoo. This plunges the world into darkness. As a result, the other deities conspire to lure the goddess out of the cave by creating a commotion outside it. A curious Amaterasu peeks out at the spectacle to find herself gazing at her own reflection in a mirror that the other deities erected. Enamored, she is lured out of the cave and brings light back to the world.

The story of Amaterasu and the cave is a powerful analogy for discovery, transformation, and “coming out.” This is an experience that the artist harnesses as a process in their work.