Misako OBA

who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever. (Psalm 136:7-9)

I reflect and use both ancient timeless message and contemporary elements from our time in one piece. Text you see in the art is computer languages (code) that correlate with stars and universe.

I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore. ( Jeremiah 33:22)

This promise signifies God’s love and faithfulness and indicates His mighty power and ability to fulfill His promises. It gives us peace, hope, and bright perspectives. He wants to bless us. We don’t have to feel too frustrated or work too hard to get it by ourselves. If His Will, it will be done, even when they seem impossible to achieve. Prayers and be honest with our Creator to make your request known to Him may be a key to remember.

The text you see in my work ​is from the verse in Hebrew​ in an abstract manner​.

He is the Maker of the Bear[a] and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted. (Job 9:9-10)

When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place, (Psalm 8:3)

 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth (Genesis 1:17)

I like the below translation as well…with the word ‘shine’… You can compare. (Genesis 1:17)

God set these lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth

*(Later, I will write more) – Please check back!

I found myself drawn to stars when I moved to Seattle  one year before I started creating the Stars and Desert series.. Having had an opportunity to see the desert and the Milky Way with the naked eye for the first time in my life and to feel awe toward God’s creations motivated me to develop this series. 

It was after I had experienced many consecutive unexpected losses: loss/death of my child, marriage, a finger, one-in-a-million type tragedies already twice by then, and many additional hardships. It was very difficult and heartbreaking. However, I was able to be healed and recover rather quickly each time and even felt at peace in the harsh dry “desert time” and thankful for what life has to offer. So, I wanted to share perspective and hope through this series as a visual statement.  (Artist Talk is scheduled on May 29, 2025 at W83 gallery in NYC)

The “Path, Mighty Hue” (diptych) – Isaiah 40:26, I completed this piece in 2021. The year 2021 marked the 10th anniversary of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Also, 20 years since the 9/11 (September 11) Attacks in the United States. Additionally, we experienced the COVID-19 global pandemic since 2020.

“It was clear that art and beauty were among those necessary things we had to provide in an emergency.” -Roger W. Lowther, author of Aroma of Beauty

We experience loss and grief in life. But, we have to remember that this shall too pass….I believe having experienced those hard times for anyone are not a wast. It is possible that we (and the cities) are going to be better, brighter, stronger, wiser, warmer, and more loving with having gone through the events. And, arts (visual arts, music, or any forms) have the power to heal us and others. I personally experienced it.