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UMI draws inspiration from the iconic 1831 wood block print, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, by Japanese ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai. Central to the installation and watercolor paintings is the primal use of Prussian Blue. This pigment, known as bero-ai, arrived in Japan in the late 1820s through Dutch and Chinese trade. By replacing traditional indigo dyes, it influenced a “blue revolution” and the development of the aizuri-e style.

As the first synthetic pigment it offered a more profound vibrancy, a broader range of tones, and increased resistance to fading from light. Its ability to effectively represent vast horizons and spatial depth catalyze the emergence of landscape as a formal genre in the ukiyo-e tradition. Mirroring Hokusai's use of the specific color the work of Chris Sicat reflects this theme of global exchange, utilizing the pigment to depict waves that represent the transoceanic exchange of materials and ideas.

Chris Sicat is a Bay Area visual artist, independent curator, theater director, and educator known for his meticulous, process-driven paintings and sculptures. The natural environment and its involvement in trans-historical dialogues are central themes in his artistic practice. He is an Arts Instructor at the Cilker School of Art and Design at West Valley College in Saratoga, California.