Absurd Heroes

Symbolism of the Material: Impermanence and Absurdity
The disposable paper plate symbolizes everyday consumer goods—cheap, fragile, and destined to be discarded—yet it carries iroiwa (rock pigment), a durable traditional medium. This contrast highlights the impermanence of existence: the artworks attempt to infuse eternal artistic value into a fleeting medium, but the plate’s fragility reminds us that all efforts may ultimately return to nothingness. Placing the work on such a substrate further reinforces the absurdity of human existence—like a game—we struggle in meaningless cycles, yet cannot escape the fate of being “discarded.”