Concept
Parallelflat
The Aesthetics of Indeterminacy
Parallelflat
"The Aesthetics of Indeterminacy"—perceiving the world through fluctuation and superposition.Rather than viewing reality as multifaceted, we capture it as multi-layered (Parallel), observing the "awai" (the interstice) where overlapping and fluctuation occur.
Artist statement
1. The Potential of "Fluctuation" as Perception
Today, driven by the pervasive spread of social media, information is fragmented, and dichotomous judgments—such as good versus evil, or right versus wrong—are accelerating.
However, to define and categorize something is inherently to discard infinite other possibilities.Rather than fearing the undefined—states of hesitation or uncertainty—we should recognize them as "Fluctuations" before they solidify.
In these opaque times, we must observe shifts in the wind not with fear, but as fluctuations.
Against the modern anxiety that rushes toward absolute certainty, Parallelflat presents the profound richness of remaining undetermined.
2. Multi-layered Parallel Observation and the Aesthetics of "Ma"
I express the philosophy of "Parallelflat" through multi-layered parallel observation and the aesthetics of "Ma" (the negative space or interval).Instead of looking at reality from multiple angles, I observe it in multi-layered "Parallel." Culture, religion, science, and spirituality—rather than fixing these as divided surfaces, I superimpose them as flat layers.
The ambiguous "awai" (the in-between) that emerges from this overlap serves as the gateway to the essence.
To create this space of "awai," I employ a visual language consisting of dragons, torii gates, and my own unique structural forms.
The dragon, depicted since ancient times, symbolizes fluid energy that is never fixed into a specific shape. I dismantle the existing contexts attached to the dragon, flattening them, and then reconstruct them as modern, multi-layered strata. Furthermore, by placing torii gates that symbolize boundaries, and geometric structures that can be interpreted as quantum representations, mosaics, or digital expressions, I create a space of "awai" where meaning transforms depending on the observer's perspective.
These motifs are not mere iconography. They are visual apparatuses designed to observe multi-layered information in parallel and extract essential questions. This philosophy of Parallelflat materializes specifically into the following four series of artworks:
産霊 | MUSUHI
"Fluctuation"—an undetermined state; the purest form of abstract expression utilizing sumi ink.
龍脈 | Flow＆Pulse
"Flow＆Pulse"—visualizing the flow of time, space, and consciousness through continuous lines, forms, and stratified layers.
神域構造体 | Sacred Structure
"Connection"—depicting the invisible ties between seemingly divided elements—individual and whole, inside and outside, past and future—as organic bonds and resonance.
御魂 | MITAMA
"Overlap"—exploring the new meanings and depth born from the overlapping of different dimensions and information, utilizing transparency and laminated structures.
Through motifs such as dragons, torii gates, and structures, these series bring fluctuation to the observer's perception and encourage a multi-layered recognition of reality.
3. A "Flat" Way of Living in an Era of Uncertainty
Questioning common sense and reinterpreting it from a neutral standpoint. Transcending the conflicts of duality, connecting multi-layered strata, and sublimating them into art.
Parallelflat is not merely an art concept. It is a philosophy for a new era—updating the spirituality of "awai" and Eastern thought cultivated by the Japanese since ancient times into a modern theory of perception, reconnecting a divided world, and embracing an undetermined future just as it is, in a state of fluctuation.
The Core Philosophy
■ Primal Return | 原点回帰
The deconstruction and reconstruction of preconceived notions.
■ Integrated Evolution | 統合進化
Creation and self-innovation through the parallel observation and integration of indeterminate information.
■ Global Harmony | 世界調和
Resonance through Yamato aesthetics, transcending dualism.
© Akikazu Harada / Parallelflat Project 2026