Karen Jiang 

The rock garden at Ryoanji Temple is said to be a tension-filled space. The position of the garden in a seemingly circular structure provides a sense of expansion and exploration beyond initial impression. As I walked, I encountered fresh green saplings soaking in sunlight. As daylight percolated through leaves, I began to understand the spatial quality of light. Like the white pebbles that surround each stone in the rock garden, light, sound, scent, and sight form a volumetric space. This is the basis of my painting. The rock is always submerged whether it appears this way or not. The perception of everything exists in its relation to everything else—accentuating complex subtleties of rationality.