Koans are designed to short-circuit the intellectual process and to open up the intuitive aspects of our consciousness. A koan is to be meditated upon. To understand the vitality of koan study, one must understand that a question is not a riddle or a paradox. For example: “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”. It’s a question that has to do with the most basic truth. These questions deal with the nature of reality.
These photographs derive from my “Animistic Ground” series, exploring and photographing the Volcan mountain range near San Diego. Hiking in the solitude of these mountains had become a spiritual journey. The common sticks and twigs gathered along the way had become special objects of contemplation, allowing my approach to life to be thought of as more of an art form.
