At Philadelphia 

Curator: This drawing, "At Philadelphia" by Shigeru Izumi, presents us with an interesting interplay of dense lines and open space. What's your initial read of it? Editor: It's instantly evocative. I feel this profound sense of being surrounded and yet directed towards an uncertain future—or is it simply hope?—at the very center. A slightly unsettling welcome committee awaits visitors between two dark woods. Curator: That sense of anticipation is quite palpable. The artist's use of ink to create such textured layers in the trees, those repetitive lines, gives them an almost breathing quality. Almost like each of them bears their own souls. Editor: The rigidity and repetition in their stems can remind us of a prison, or any kind of architecture. Then, one becomes very aware that these very sharp lines lead the eye to two entities reminiscent of caged birds—their posture denotes longing and defeat. This piece tells stories about industrialization and how nature resists its grasp, even though some non-humans become entrapped. Curator: I appreciate that reading! To me, the work feels much more open. The title locates us in Philadelphia, and the overall feeling for me, maybe more naively, is that of being immersed in nature within a structured environment. The stylized animal figure in the foreground, yes, appears a little trapped. But also playful. It is like we are faced with a spirit guiding us further inside this dimension, offering the keys to its secret place. Editor: Perhaps the duality isn't a conflict, but a synthesis. Izumi offers us a reminder that nature and concrete exist in the same dimension—though their tensions are as prominent as the line work itself. What at first looks as harmonious now bears a question about the ethics of construction and ownership, something very relevant for our urban landscape. Curator: So, whether you're feeling a cautious optimism or something a little more weighted by environmental and social implications, this drawing invites us to linger in that liminal space. A world in perpetual metamorphosis... A lovely spot for some deep reflection. Editor: Indeed, the beauty lies in its capacity to make us question our perception and how we relate to the physical places around us. How do we build community in concrete environments? It's about our own role and positioning.