*ソマ = 杣夫・きこり
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一片の木から、ソマ*の森、恐るべき自然を思い浮かべることは無謀だろうか。山の人は海を、海の人は山を語ることがある。自然のサインを深く読み取ることのできる人は、眼前にある物事の向こう側を見ることができるのだろう。一片の木は、私たちと自然の継ぎ手となるべく、「向こう側」を示唆するために拾われたのかもしれない。
Ⅰ. Leaving
禍があると、多くの人が移動を始める。多くの人は「安全」な方へ、生きる手段のある方へと移動するだろう。しかし「安全」なはずのその行き先は、その人が何に目を向けているかによって異なる。街の利便性を生きる手段と考える人とは逆に、豪雪地帯や火山のようなより厳しい土地を求めて移動する人もいるだろう。その人はもしかすると、恐るべき自然によってその自然から身を守る術と、生きていることの実感を求めて旅立ちを決めるのかもしれない。
この続きは、ショートエッセイ『ソマの舟』vol.1に掲載しています。
This is a series of woodblock prints that spell out the images and episodes that came to mind while researching mountain handworks. By splitting a woodblock according to the wood grain and drawing along the shape, I try to create works in correspondence with natural materials. For the woodblock prints, I used 2 kinds of paints, which extracted from the soil I collected and the leaves of the indigo plants I had cultivated. And I wrote the episodes that served as the background to the works in the short essays. I’m currently making works following “Soma’s Boat” vol.1 and 2.
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Is it reckless to imagine *Soma’s forest or the menace of nature from a piece of wood? The people of the mountains may talk about the sea, and the people of the sea may talk about the mountains. A person who can deeply understand the signs of nature may be able to see what is on the “other side” of reality right in front of you. A piece of wood may appear to hint the “other side,” as to be a joint between ourselves and nature.
*Soma: Woodman or lumberjack
I.Leaving
When there is a disaster, many people start to move. The majority of people move to the “safe” direction, where there is means to survive. However, the destination that should be “safe” may differ depending on what one is focusing on. Opposite to those who think of the convenience of cities as means to survive, some may move to seek more harsh land like an area of heavy snowfall or a volcano. Those are possibly the people that may decide to depart to seek the ways to protect themselves by cooperating and trying to coexist with menaces in nature, and experience a real feeling of existence.
– The continuation of this essay is printed on “Soma’s Boat” vol.1.