The Counter Gadgets (LEDs) in my work symbolize the glitter of human life (The Life). The Counter Gadgets count down from nine to one, on to complete darkness without indicating "zero" and returning to nine and repeats itself. The transformation and glitter of the numbers symbolize "life" of man and the darkness of "zero" symbolizes "death".

In Buddhist Philosophy, the life of man is interpreted as the repetition of "life" and "death". In other words, "death" is not an end, but is similar to a sleep as a preparation of the "next birth". Furthermore, the rhythm (Life Time) of "birth" to "death", from "death" to "next birth" is innate to every individual life, with individuality, and is also said that each possess a different rhythm.

Each and every man have performed this solemn drama for hundreds and thousands of years. Such "life time" have appeared and disappeared, disappeared and appeared throughout the world. It is beautiful as watching a sky full of glittering stars. As each and every "life" is different, "death" is never the same. Therefore, each and every "life" and "death" glitter and as the "life" and "death" mutually make harmony with one another, it almost performs a majestic and universal symphony. I consider this as beauty of "Natural Life Time".

However at times this solemn performance of "Natural Life Time" has been destroyed and divided. An artificial deed sinned to devlishness.

According to the calculation of Brejinsky, Presidential aide to former US President Carter, war, revolution and dispute in the 20th century have lost human lives of 167,000,000 people. This figure, a terrifying number, equals to a total population of Italy, France and England of 1997. In a way this century has been an era caused by "Artificial Mega Death". "Death" of The Life which has been artificially and unjustly taken away has no individuality any longer. This "life and death" all becomes "death" in the same nature. The reason for this is because the destruction and division of individual "Natural Life Time" implies the disorder of eternal rhythm from "life" to "death", and to the "next life" which evenly The life originally possess. It becomes a depraved "death" which eternal rhythm is cut off and suspending in midair, not as a fertile "death" with a rhythm to its "next life". This "death" has no longer the glitter to make harmony with "life", with its individuality divested. The darkness of "Artificial Mega Death" is filled up with the same nature of "death" and only the terror of suspension remains.

This work is my attempt to show the beauty of "Natural Life Time" as a majestic and universal symphony, the contrast of terror when it is suddenly destroyed, and to question people what they think about the meaning of "Artificial Mega Death".

5 / 1999

WORK> PORTFOLIO > 1995-1999> MEGA DEATH