woodcut print (panel, Japanese paper, oil ink), wood panel
183×127cm
The 2nd Sun Island is an island that exploits all energy from the natural resources in order to keep the artificial sun, or electric light, shining day and night for human activities. Its shape is reminiscent of Mount Meru, a huge mountain representing the ancient Indian view of the universe, and a mushroom cloud caused by a nuclear bomb. Mount Meru, which depicts the world of gods and Buddha beyond the reach of human knowledge, and the nuclear bomb, which was created by man's desire for domination, are the exact opposite of each other in terms of ideal and reality, but both embody the yearning for power in common. The shining light at the top of The 2nd Sun Island is a light bulb. The mountains leading up to the summit are dotted with hydroelectric power plants, thermal power plants, nuclear power plants, solar power (turtles), and wind power facilities, and in the vicinity are the oil, natural gas, coal, and uranium mining sites and dams that keep them running. It is a frightening prospect of using up resources in a short period of about 140 years for the sake of the second sun that will never set. But for us, the dependence on the comforts of electricity is mundane. Post-modern civilization has gone uncriticized, and the problems that have been put off have piled up like a mountain. I believe that the current situation is one in which we stand by knowing that the bill for our civilized way of life is coming down like a mushroom cloud with enormous destructive power. This work will depict that foreshadows the future in a classical style.