My first solo show has concluded successfully. I'm deeply grateful to all the friends who visited—from near or far—and delighted to have met many new friends and collectors. The show opened with a sale of "Passing By No.5" to a client who didn't even see the real piece, and closed with a sale of "One, Two, Three" to a lovely couple on the final day. It was a wonderful experience, and I thank Carole, the owner of Sorokin Gallery for granting me this opportunity.
I have prepared extensively for the new show season. I switched from mesh panels to Pro panels, upgraded to an 8ft combo canopy, and bought a new van for transportation. The new display looks fantastic! It will make its debut at the Spring Rittenhouse Square Fine Craft Show on May 9–11, then on Memorial Day weekend(May 24–25), at the Westport Fine Art Festival, followed by my first appearance at the Spring Chester Craft Show on May 31–June 1. You can find the full show schedule here.
Revelation in Japan
Beijing is only two and a half hours from Tokyo, yet in my sixteen years living there, I never once thought of traveling to Japan—despite several of my closest friends being frequent visitors and speaking highly of it. I suppose it was because, when I was younger, I held onto a kind of obsession with the wartime past between the two countries—refusing to buy Japanese cars and things like that.
Not long after I landed in Japan, any lingering disgruntlement vapored into thin air. Everywhere is clean and everything is in order. People are polite, friendly—and beautiful too. The food is incredibly delicious and surprisingly affordable; in New York, the same quality would easily cost double. Japan feels instantly familiar: Kanji, faces, road signs. It is like the version of China I hoped for, a refined, harmonious, perfect form of human society.
It will take several newsletter to fully share my experiences in Japan. In this one, I want to focus on Mount Fuji . First, the size of it is astonishing. Rising over 12,000 feet from an otherwise flat landscape, Fuji dominates the view. You won’t miss it—on a clear day, it can be seen from more than 180 miles away, even from the airplane. It is still active; the last eruption was just 300 years ago, and it could erupt again at any time. It is perfectly symmetrical, crowned with icy tops, awes you every time you see it: a mix of beauty, grandeur, and looming danger. Paired with the fleeting fragility of cherry blossoms, you begin to understand the deep sense of impermanence that runs through Japanese culture.
A set of three, an evening under Mount Fuji
Among the famous Fuji Five Lakes, I chose Kawaguchiko—the most accessible—for a one-night stay. The next morning, I got up at 4 AM to capture the shots I had planned. The weather cooperated beautifully, offering a clear view of Fuji. Only one other photographer was there; we quietly took turns at the same spot without saying a word. It was all silence, save for the gentle sound of water sloshing against the shore.
A 2 minute long exposure captures the night lights
For those who love color photography, I present these to you:
A close-up of the top
With the moon
Morning, Fuji
I hope you enjoyed the photos. Wishing you a wonderful weekend—speak to you soon!
Hi, Reader! Welcome back to my newsletter! I won it again! 3 hats Last week I returned to Westhampton, but I didn’t expect to win again—I figured they’d probably give the award to someone else for the sake of balance. Yet they still awarded me First Place in Photography. I had a terrific show: lots of compliments, great conversations, and many new customers. The photo above shows a happy collector of Fog Lake, Mary, and her lovely daughter. Once again, "One, Two, Three" became the star of the...
Hi, Reader! Welcome back to my newsletter! Awards, awards In the Community Sponsored Awards Show at Rowayton Arts Center, my work "Lighthouse and the Moon" won First Prize in Photography. This is the first time I've ever received a monetary reward from an exhibition. I thank judge Lizzy De Vita and Rowayton Arts Center for the recognition, and also to DR Bank for their continued support to the art community. "Lighthouse and the Moon", Tod's Point, 2025 Last Friday, Best Photography Awards...
