The Gem Series
Makiko Harris’ Gem Paintings’ are an ongoing series of works on custom-shaped plywood panels. The 9 unqiue shapes were initially drawn in reference to the stones and minerals the artist would find hiking in the wilderness desert while growing up in California, USA. Each gem shape references a personal memory for the artist. The shapes are reused repeatedly but no two gem paintings are exactly alike. Beyond the shapes, the work references other aspects of her cultural upbringing such as Japanese sumi-e ink painting and the sacred color red as it relates to Japanese temples.
Photos by Ben Pipe and Makiko Harris