FOREST SPIRITS
Nara, Japan.
On one of my recent trips to Japan, I had the opportunity to visit the city of Nara for the first time, a place where humans and deer coexist in harmony. I spent wonderful days there, immersed in the immensity of its monumental forest. I sketched and drew, I sketched and drew, inspired by local folklore and stories about the deers.
Nara is not only a refuge for sika deer, which roam freely and curiously approach visitors; it is also a space where spirituality and nature intertwine. The atmosphere of the place offered me the opportunity to reflect on the connection between humans and the environment, a recurring theme in my works.
The symbolism of Nara, with its ancient temples and echoes of ancient legends, served as a powerful catalyst for my creativity. I was able to glimpse how these elements would be integrated into some of my future creations, reflecting not only the beauty of nature and the myths but also the depths of the human spiritual balance.
These are two of the pieces I painted after my dreamlike visit to Nara, these paintings are inspired by the beautiful Myths and meanings about the deers there.
According to local folklore, Takemikazuchi, one of the four gods of the Kasuga Grand Shrine, arrived one day around the year 768 on the back of a white deer. Since then, the people of Nara have considered the sika deer sacred messengers and forest spirits, watching over the city.
In ancient times, the Forest Spirit may have been summoned to defend the Nara forests from invaders or natural disasters, taking forms such as a tree or deer to protect the surroundings. Also it was believed that the traveler who ventured into the forest might encounter the Spirit of the Forest, who would teach him about spiritual wisdom and natural balance, guiding him along a mystical path full of symbols.
