My favorite type of art to create is symbolic still life painting in oil. I arrange objects like skulls, flowers, candles, and paper cranes to explore ideas of life, death, memory, and healing. Oil paint allows me to build slow layers, creating depth, light, and atmosphere. Each object is chosen with intent, forming quiet, reflective scenes that invite viewers to pause, look closely, and develop their own personal interpretations and emotional connections.

I find inspiration in Senbazuru, the Japanese tradition of folding 1,000 paper cranes to symbolize longevity, happiness, and peace as a prayer for healing. Often linked to Sadako Sasaki, a young victim of the Hiroshima bombing, the cranes became a global symbol of peace. I incorporate paper cranes in my work to reflect my search for inner peace and to extend that same wish for healing and hope to others.

I would use $25,000 to fund my solo exhibition of 30 large-scale paintings expanding on the 1,000 paper crane concept. Instead of folding them, I will paint 1,000 cranes across the series, inspired by Senbazuru. Each painting presents a different still life scene exploring grief and hope through objects interacting with the cranes. The funds will support materials, studio costs, and exhibition preparation, creating space for reflection, dialogue, and healing.