"Transfiguration" Triptych, from left to right, Son, Father, Holy Spirit 7'x11' panels, Sumi ink on Belgium Linen
Artist’s Statement – Transfiguration
For University of Pennsylvania Annenberg Center Installation, 2025
“Transfiguration” is a visual meditation on transformation, bridging East and West, tradition and contemporary expression. Created with century-old Sumi ink on Belgian linen, the triptych echoes the structure of historical altarpieces, with the central panel slightly raised to align with the shadow of both outer panels. Inspired by Tohaku Hasegawa’s “Shorinzu Byobu” (late 16th century) masterpiece, often called “The Sound of Silence” painting, “Transfiguration” references biblical landscapes from my travels to Israel and Palestine, including Mt. Hermon, Mt. Tabor, Jerusalem, and the Sea of Galilee.
The Transfiguration, as described in the Gospels, is both a moment of divine revelation and a foreshadowing of suffering. This tension—between glory and sacrifice, light and shadow—resonates beyond theology. It is seen in art, nature, and personal transformation. Through layered brushwork and historical materials, this piece invites viewers to contemplate transfiguration not just as an event, but as an ongoing unveiling of beauty and renewal in a fractured world.
Makoto Fujimura