Involution No.3, 2024

Mike Sasaki   Emerging artists

Discovering this form by sketching was a delightful surprise. Visualizing the piece in the round based off the drawing was a challenging and invigorating process. The final decisions for the exact curvature of the components came about as the piece progressed, so it was a carving process of care and caution. Involution No.3 may function as an expressive piece as well as a contemplative one. In the former sense, the piece displays its inherent character in the motion and posture of the form; and in the latter sense, the piece with the help of the title, could prompt the viewer to contemplate on the process of looking inwardly.

The surface of the piece is the natural wood and was smoothed and clarified with fine grit sandpaper, carefully taking finishing passes in one directional strokes (not back and forth). The surface therefore exhibits the natural grain patterns and coloration of the western red cedar. It remains light in colour which exhibits the lights and shadows with a higher contrast as opposed to if it was waxed, which would darken the colour.

Any level of viewing from waist to eye level works well for this piece so experimentation with a variety of angles and lighting arrangements in encouraged. It is signed on the bottom with a pyrograph tool including the year and wood form number. The surface is the natural wood. Dust with a soft cloth.