Miya Ando b. 1973
Unkai (A Sea Of Clouds) May 3 2022 6:58 PM, 2022
Ink on aluminum composite
48 x 38 1/2 in
121.9 x 97.8 cm
121.9 x 97.8 cm
8653
Further images
This painting by Miya Ando captures the ephemeral, transient experience of watching clouds at night. The date stamp in the title illustrates the exact time and date that Ando observed...
This painting by Miya Ando captures the ephemeral, transient experience of watching clouds at night. The date stamp in the title illustrates the exact time and date that Ando observed the clouds on which she based the painting. The Japanese word “unkai” literally translates into “sea of clouds.” The work is painted with ink on metal. The stability of the metal offers a counterbalance to the ephemerality of the subject matter and the liminality of the visual experience that occurs as light reflects off the ink. A practicing Buddhist, Ando works a lot with natural phenomena such as clouds and light to express the idea of impermanence. In this series, even though the moon is not visible, its presence is still an essential part of the work. The image is painted on metal, a material Ando appreciates for its ability to reflect light under constantly changing conditions. The strength and permanence of the material is juxtaposed by the ephemerality of the subject matter.