Yamamoto’s Salt Labytinths
Most beautiful things made from unusual mediums will catch my eye (I think the fascination began with the work of Vik Muniz), and these salt creations by Motoi Yamamoto certainly fit the bill.
However, the rationale behind the medium in Yamamoto’s work ensures that it is not just beautiful, unusual, and wow-inducing for the time it takes to make, but also meaningful.
The artist began working with salt, which is significant in the mourning process in Japanese culture, after his sister died of brain cancer in 1994 at age 24 as a way of dealing with his grief and frustration. The labyrinths and complex patterns, according to Yamamoto, are meant to convey a sense of eternity.
Don’t they also remind you of the raking in zen gardens? Knowing the reason for the use of salt, the pieces take on a highly meditative effect.
More at this NPR article.