"The quality that we call beauty, however, must always grow from the realities of life."
Following a tour of three Zen gardens in Kyoto, the guide provided an essay written by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki in 1933 titled, In Praise of Shadows. He contrasts the Japanese appreciation for the subtlety and transience of dimness and darkness and the beauty and mystery they evoke, with the Western preference for bright, harsh ambiance.
"We delight in the mere sight of the delicate glow of fading rays clinging to the surface of a dusky wall, there to live out what little life remains to them. We never tire of the sight, for to us this pale glow and these dim shadows far surpass any ornament."
His perspective ties closely to the Japanese concept of “Ma,” which describes the importance of negative space between objects or moments in time. It’s deeply embedded in Japanese art, architecture, language, and interactions. It’s the intentional interval that’s said to create balance and flow in life.
There’s no shortage of flash and awe in this bustling island nation. But so much is said in what isn’t.
The slow closing of the eyelids that allows you to appreciate the creases in the skin or the water droplets resting on the tips of the hair. The muted blinking of red obstruction lights over the sea of skyscrapers in Tokyo’s night sky. The bow from the Shinkansen conductor to his successor on the platform. The people paused at a crosswalk—no cars in sight—waiting for the light to turn green before taking their next step.
These subtle, fleeting moments stay with you long after you leave.
The pale glow that keeps me coming back.
LIMITED EDITION
A moment captured for a life on paper.
Eric works with a renowned print studio in Brooklyn, New York, known for decades of expertise in archival pigment printing. The local lab allows for a collaborative approach, ensuring that his intended vision is expressed in the final artwork. When cared for properly, archival pigment prints can last for over a century.
Archival Pigment Prints
Modern printmaking, refined. Pigment prints utilize state-of-the-art digital technology and high-quality pigment-based inks to achieve striking reproductions. A digital image is applied directly onto the paper using precision inkjet printers, ensuring both image quality and longevity.
Vision meets the surface. Archival papers differ in weight, material, and texture. A paper is chosen to best suit the intent of the piece, from satin finishes to enhance rich shadows and colors, to handmade Japanese rice paper that offers a more textured and vintage feel.
The edition size ensures that only the number of prints indicated will ever be produced. Each print is proofed, reviewed, numbered, and signed by Eric, and includes a Certificate of Authenticity that is unique to your artwork.
Prices from $3,500 USD
Archival Pigment Print
20’’ x 30’’ / 50.8 x 76.2 cm
Edition of 15
24’’ x 36’’ / 61.0 x 91.4 cm
Edition of 7
Silver Gelatin Print
36’’ x 54’’ / 91.4 x 137.2 cm
Edition of 3
44’’ x 66’’ / 111.8 x 167.6 cm
Edition of 2
