Abiotic || Ikigai
Caelan Stokkermans Arts 2020
I approached this piece with trepidation researching into the various rituals of Seppuku, history and ideology behind it. I wanted to ensure I captured the essence of the act, the horror mixed with beauty of committing the ultimate sacrifice in the name of honor. Initially I wanted to have the samurai kneeling in a garden with a cherry blossom tree and a koi pond. However as I tried rendering out this idea I felt something was lost in the colors and flowers. The piece needed something more emotionally invigorating, a catalyst for this man to take his own life. I was inspired by the game Sekiro and the film "Throne of Blood" by Akira Kurosawa. I created a more bleak dead landscape, with the fallen house of the samurai's Daimyo in the background. The samurai's failure complete, he commits Seppuku to retain his honor and prevent falling into enemy hands.
The scroll beneath him writes out lyrics from the album that say, "I have found my reason for being, but now it's too late."
Released By: The Artisan Era
I approached this piece with trepidation researching into the various rituals of Seppuku, history and ideology behind it. I wanted to ensure I captured the essence of the act, the horror mixed with beauty of committing the ultimate sacrifice in the name of honor. Initially I wanted to have the samurai kneeling in a garden with a cherry blossom tree and a koi pond. However as I tried rendering out this idea I felt something was lost in the colors and flowers. The piece needed something more emotionally invigorating, a catalyst for this man to take his own life. I was inspired by the game Sekiro and the film "Throne of Blood" by Akira Kurosawa. I created a more bleak dead landscape, with the fallen house of the samurai's Daimyo in the background. The samurai's failure complete, he commits Seppuku to retain his honor and prevent falling into enemy hands.
The scroll beneath him writes out lyrics from the album that say, "I have found my reason for being, but now it's too late."
Released By: The Artisan Era
