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Leeay Aikawa

Reverence (2021) explores natural objects that are considered ‘dead’ in a usual sense, in relation to the season of winter and its majestic light.
I began collecting these natural objects, such as fallen oak leaves, acorns, and dead plants as I walked the streets or park without any particular intentions. 
The dead plants are by far easier to pick up than plants that are still 'alive.’ The expression of dead plants is just neutral, subtle, and quiet. It is like they have already become ‘nobody’ and been liberated; they teach me how to surrender and release my old identity. 

I acknowledge that we are situated upon the traditional territories of the Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe and the Mississaugas of the Credit. For over 10,000 years Indigenous peoples have lived in this area and I recognize the enduring presence of Indigenous peoples on this land.

Indra's Net (2021) 

 20 x 20 " 

Indra’s Net (2021) is an instrument to magnify my experience with Divine Light, while allowing me to recognize the structure of the reality: 
Everything is interconnected.


"The clock indicates the moment... but what does eternity indicate?

Eternity lies in bottomless reservoirs...its buckets are rising forever and ever."

–Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass 61

The sensibility of the leaves requires great amount of care and compassion, nourishing the soil of the land that nourished my soul.

Träumerei
–Robert Schumann

High Park is located within “Dish With One Spoon” Territory.
The “Dish with One Spoon” is a Wampum Belt Covenant between the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas to share and protect this land together by using only one spoon to eat from the Dish and ensuring the Dish is never empty.

How do I show my respect to the living spirit of the Presence?

Crown of Devotion(2021)

The crown represents my deep respect for the Mother, the land, the Spirit, who nurture the sense of belonging and well-being.

One of my favorite root vegetables –Lotus Root.

Then I slow-baked them at low temperature (around 200C )for 4 hours to harden them.

The moral covenant of reciprocity calls us to honor our responsibilities for all we have been given, for all that we have taken. It’s our turn now,
long overdue. Let us hold a giveaway for Mother Earth.” 

–Robin Wall Kimmerer, 

Braiding Sweetgrass 384

Shaping into pure gold of Spirit

"I see my soul reflected in nature..." –Walt Whitman,

Leaves of Grass 95

Though, the crown was not initially made for ‘me,’ I can feel that respecting Mother Earth is equitable to an act of devotion to Divine within.


Crown of Devotion (2021)

Crown of Devotion (2021)

Devotion to the Light, to the Mother

Interaction between pure spirit of gold and the sacredness of the winter sun

I wanted to capture this as is.

I felt bad using this tool to pick you up.

Behaviour of COSMOS – Harmonious  Order

Cosmos (2021)
Found plants on a rice paper 

Used Japanese Ryoba saw, it is quite meditative– allowing slow gentle process


COSMOS (2021)

Love Story (2021)

Look up to our teachers for how to live on this planet.