Permeable Existence No.12, 2026

Mike Sasaki   Emerging artists

Developed on paper, the form of Permeable Existence No.12 came into existence through the natural drawing process consisting of trying out ideas, building upon certain ones and turning away from others. And in this creative process where previous sketches on the page are subconsciously integrated into new explorations, there emerged this original form which I would never have discovered through mental imagination alone. Even now, looking at the piece sitting on the plinth in my studio, after all the many hours of work on it, it still appears rather alien and unfamiliar to me. That said, it is clearly a work of fine tuned proportions (which were of course guided not by the cognitive and measuring mind but rather the more intuitive sense during the drawing process), spacing and internal dialogue between the formal components.

As I dig deep into the metaphysical essence of the form, I can say the chosen title reflects the core inspiration for the piece. The title refers to an intelligent and open cosmos of energy and soul, rather than a more rigid or solid-particle point of view.

Working from a front-view drawing alone, the depth dimension of the piece had to be worked out mentally. I envisioned the slanting back of the front face as well as the turning forward of the back part, and the exact spacing between the parts had to be carefully worked out in the block, erring on the side of caution. This means, starting to carve a small hole in the certain centre of the opening and gradually enlarging the space as the other components of the sculpture become more clearly defined in their size and position.

The artwork is carved from a single block of Western Red Cedar. Acquiring a block this size, properly dried without cracks is not a common occurrence. The lighter coloured portion of the wood, which could be positioned suitably at the front of the sculpture, was also a privilege. The work is carved predominantly using traditional hand tools with the aid of an electric drill to help excavate the material from the large opening. The concentric layers were carved first with a small gouge and then refined and smoothed with a riffler and a shop-made sanding tool. Carving out the inner space between the font and back parts required particular care so as not to cut the nearby faces. The sculpture is waxed and buffed to a satin sheen with paste wax (which is a mixture of beeswax and the harder carnauba wax).

As well as serving as a modern art piece, I hope the sculpture inspires a deeper contemplation into nature and our human experience. It is a versatile piece in terms of placement and will work well with adequate space around it. The last picture shows the piece dimly lit by window light.

Dimensions:
W 8.5" x H 8.25" x D 5 "
W 21.5cm x H 21cm x D 12.5cm

Wood Form #331

It is signed on the bottom including the year, with a pyrograph tool. Dust with a soft cloth. Avoid scratching with fingernails. Keep a reasonable distance from heat sources. It is packed safely and securely in a box for shipment.