Why do I want to express light with thread?
From a technical perspective, one of the greatest challenges I faced when creating photo embroidery was how to make the work appear bright.
The process begins with converting an image into embroidery data, selecting the thread colors, and then stitching the work. However, throughout this process, my eyes are constantly exposed to the light emitted from the computer monitor.
I view the image through the light of the screen, and based on that impression, I choose threads to match the colors. But thread itself does not emit light. What happens then is that if I only focus on matching the color, the finished work will inevitably appear darker than intended.
I kept thinking: how can I make the work brighter? Could I make it even brighter than the original image? While striving to achieve this, I began to consider whether it was possible to express light itself using only the colors of thread.
Of course, the thread does not suddenly start glowing. When people look at my work, they may think they are seeing an object, a figure, an animal, or a landscape. But in fact, what they are truly seeing through these motifs is light itself.
Unlike the direct light of a computer monitor, the light reflected from various angles enters the eyes. You could say it is natural light.
I often say that I aim to express light with thread, and most of my works are landscapes. However, I invite you to view them from different distances, up close, or from an angle. You will notice that the work changes expression.
The moment you notice this, you may feel drawn into the work itself. At that moment, you will be seeing the same scene that I once witnessed. Across time and space, you yourself may become part of the light, blending into the embroidery.
This is the kind of work I want to create through photo embroidery.