SAORIKANDA

Created as a formal dedication at Shōmogū Shrine on Iki Island,
the birthplace of ancient Japanese Shinto,
at the spring equinox of 2024

A major work, painted with her whole being on the RESPECT stage at the memorable first edition of “Nakatsugawa THE SOLAR BUDOKAN”, a groundbreaking rock festival run entirely on solar energy.

A total solar eclipse, when the Earth, the Moon and the Sun align in a single straight line. Seeking that miraculous moment, more than 90,000 people from around the world gathered on the scorching land of Oregon and held a vast open-air festival.
A special work, painted on the main stage immediately after the total eclipse as a member of the legendary psychedelic band Shpongle, dancing wildly in the very midst of an energy ablaze with jubilation.

Shpongle, the charismatic and legendary psychedelic band based in London. When they came to Japan, a miraculous encounter took place, and on the main stage of ageha, Tokyo’s largest live venue, amid a frenzy that seemed about to split the hall apart, she danced wildly and painted this monumental work. That performance together forged a bond: after the show, Shpongle’s founders Raja Ram and Simon Posford acknowledged her with the words “YOU ARE SHPONGLE!”, and she has since become soul family, sharing stages around the world as a member of Shpongle. A work of explosive energy that truly heralds a beginning.

A black dragon, painted in a single burst at a special performance for Zushi Media Arts: surrendering to the overwhelming groove of the taiko drum group [GOCOO], SAORI KANDA herself let out a growl, became a dragon and left her self behind. After the performance she fainted on stage and was carried out on GORO’s shoulders. An experience of becoming one with the dragon.

A gentle
gentle
encounter with the dragon deity
Gracefully
softly
the dragon within me
is rainbow-colored

SAORI KANDA 10th Anniversary Party
[ Re:Union Universe / 再 会 宇 宙 ] 2012.7.7 Ohisama Nobu
@ SEED SHIP, Shimokitazawa

Spirit Journey
Music and art have, through shared feeling, bound people strongly together since the distant past. Swaying to the beat, growing fierce with color, sharing the present with the whole body. Precisely now, when the state of the world has changed so drastically and we recognize anew how precious the connection between people is, we need to remember the primal joy inherent in human beings.
Weyekin is the inner spirit that reveals itself only to the person concerned during the “vision quest”, a ritual the Nez Perce perform in order to find oneself. This spirit, it is said, teaches that person their role in this world.
Surrender to the vibration of drum, sound and color, set the soul free, and awaken the Weyekin.

You may bloom in joy
You may dance in joy, at ease
From the moment you were born
always, always
you have been a goddess
When you find the courage to love yourself
the goddess within shines
and healing energy overflows into the world

You may bloom in joy
You may dance in joy, at ease
From the moment you were born
always, always
you have been a goddess
When you find the courage to love yourself
the goddess within shines
and healing energy overflows into the world

LOVE YOUR SELF
It’s all right to cry
Beyond honest tears
you will meet your true smile

To love yourself
is, truly,
to love the world
There were times I was hurt
There were times I wanted to run away
But
through art
I gained the confidence and courage
not to run from myself
Life is full of possibility at any age
The vibration of love always comes around
To any darkness, light always returns
I came to believe this
at a deep level, through my own experience
A precious work that saved me
and through which I could be born once again

To love sacred eros
for oneself
is true Self Love
The body, a gift
given at birth
Sexuality is sacred
When sexuality as it is
and erotic sensuality
are, as something sacred and precious,
allowed
accepted
held with pride
and respected
the soul is wrapped in a deep sense of safety
a full and abundant energy
circulates through the whole body
and leads to the joy of loving
one’s own existence, whole and entire
The goddess within smiles sweetly
and life energy
wells up without end

The dragon within = masculinity
and the goddess within = femininity
their harmony
lets our life stretch free
and stirs it to rise
Regardless of gender, male or female,
every human being inherently holds the qualities of both poles
Masculinity is
action, decisiveness, swiftness, transformation, logic,
a linear energy, so to speak
Femininity is
intuition, receptivity, perseverance, harmony, creativity,
a spiral energy, so to speak
The harmony of the two poles is the very source of vitality and joy
A work expressing the sensual union of the dragon and the goddess within

Bright, mild spring
Swimming in the breeze
where to?
Toward what feels good
Toward what delights the soul