I was born in the ancient city of Nara, a treasure trove of Japanese culture and went on to study Japanese textiles in Kyoto, another great historical center. As a child, my neuroscientist father taught me that we perceive the world around us through our brains. This led me to develop a strong interest in optical illusions, which are caused by the way the brain processes and interprets visual information.

Making traditional Japanese textiles involves numerous dyeing and weaving processes of mind-boggling precision. As a result, even the works of master craftspeople contain subtle irregularities or discrepancies. The cumulative outcome of repetitive manual processes, these irregularities possess a beauty that transcends the realm of human control.

The three-dimensional world we inhabit is a simulacrum our brains devise based upon the two-dimensional images captured by our retina. The complex interaction of vision and cognition can give rise to optical illusion. The discrepancy between reality and our image of it demonstrates that what we actually see is only a limited version of reality as processed via our brains.

I create simple grid shapes using layer after layer of acrylic paint. Through the small irregularities and imperfections that result from this process, my paintings express a beauty that transcends the realm of human control. And by endowing my grids with subtle optical illusion effects, I aim to share with the viewer the sense that none of us can fully comprehend the world as we see it.