Gallery VER

“Wave Garden / El Paradiso”

Installation and Soundscape by Eiji Sumi

Sumi’s “Wave Garden” is an interdisciplinary project that delves into the art of Japanese garden making and its modernity, demonstrated through Sumi’s evolving practice of art science as a contemporary artist. 

Sumi’s previous research project, ‘Reimagining Japanese Zen Garden with Wave simulation,’ serves as the foundation for this exhibition, which explored the concept of how Japanese garden making consisting of its contradictory relation between the traditional and progressive culture with  inanimate objects and minimal aesthetics and how the experiences of beauty in nature differ from the beauty of artificially modified nature. 

In his previous research, Sumi sought to democratize the boundary of experiencing the Zen garden in virtual format with computer simulation.

In this new exhibition, “Wave Garden/ El Paradiso” Sumi highlights his continuous inquiry to forge a harmonious synergy between the realms of art and science and endeavors to develop the new form of Japanese Zen gardens where the coalescence of nature and man and man’s ingenuity creates a sanctuary of profound mindfulness.

The “Wave Garden” project dissects the mechanics underlying wave generation, delving into the scientific nuances of artificial wave formation inherent in the rhythmic motion of waves. 

His exploration transcends the intangible realm of mindfulness and the meditative cadence intrinsic to the undulating waves from birth to death through its wave formation.

Sumi explores the auditory dimension of water and its perception, where the melodic symphony of water holds untapped potential for hydrotherapeutic meditation, employing the reconstructions of the ancient Japanese Water Bell system called “Suikinkutsu.” In this confluence of disciplines and dimensions, Sumi’s work charts a trajectory towards an artful oasis where the coexistence of nature and artificiality transcends contemplation in harmony.

With Sumi’s keen interest in the historic significance of evolving methodology of the Japanese garden in relation to the symbolism of Zen philosophy, and it’s modernism, Wave Garden/ El Paradiso unravels the intricate tapestry of Japanese garden evolution, where the spirit of modernism and traditions intertwine with the notions of the asian spirits which is connected to the socio-cultural environment around us. Through his new series of ink work on Washi paper, Sumi unveils the transformative potential of symbolism, transcending the boundaries of physical space to cultivate profound mindfulness. 

Amidst urban challenges in accessing tranquil spaces, the concept of reimagining a Zen garden emerges as a beacon of accessibility, mirroring historical Japanese gardens’ role in soothing spirits. This revelation prompts further exploration into an experience, envisioning the Japanese Zen Garden’s evolution beyond local boundaries unbound by geographic constraints into vast realms.

In Collaboration with Juan Cueves on Sound Design

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About Artist: EIJI SUMI

Eiji Sumi is a Japanese artist based in Bangkok, Thailand, moved from Tokyo and stayed in New York in 1994 where he has been creating artwork not only fit in the white Cube but in urban spaces by applying optical, multimedia in collaborations with various fields.  While his work continued to evoke and extend the physical sensations of people living in megacities, In 2012, Sumi moved to Bangkok and has been engaging in art-science practices with keen sensitivity to social issues, using his mixed media approaches to research materials contextualizing various forms and ideas. Sumi has gained international recognition, holding numerous exhibitions and being curated by Eric Shiner, Gridthiya Gaweewong, Honor Harger, Brian Curtin, Keiichi Miyagawa, Angkrit Ajchariyasopho, Lyno Vuth, and Ni-kun amongst others. Sumi was shortlisted for the 2017 Sovereign Asian Art Award in Hong Kong. In 2018, he exhibited at the Art Science Museum in Singapore in collaboration with the Nobel Museum for the 100th anniversary of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman. Other notable exhibitions include the Yuan Museum of Contemporary Art (Essence Contemporary Art Museum) in Chongqing, China (2020), the Contemporary Art Museum Kumamoto (2021), and the Hotel Asia Project (2015–2021) across Japan, China, Thailand, Indonesia. He also participated in the Sawan Siwilai Exhibition in Bangkok (2022) among notable figures of Thai artists and had a solo exhibition at Gallery Ver in Bangkok (2018). 

Currently, Sumi is a full-time senior lecturer in Chulalongkorn University’s International Communication Design Program (CommDe) and a part-time lecturer in the International Program in Design and Architecture (INDA) within the university’s Faculty of Architecture. He holds a BA from Rikkyo University in Tokyo and an MFA from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Bangkok.