“TOMORROW FIELD （あしたの畑）”
Hiroshi Sugimoto, 2021, colored pencil on paper

When animals became human, it was through the discovery of fire that they truly became human.
Fire illuminated the darkness; by wielding it, humans frightened other beasts, and came to know the deliciousness of grilled meat and roasted sweet potatoes.

Civilization, too, owes its existence to fire.
Slash-and-burn farming ensured the harvest, and from that came the character 畑 (hatake, “field”)
— a rice paddy (田) placed beside fire (火).

The character 火 (“fire”) itself was created to commemorate humankind’s discovery of fire: it depicts a person raising both hands, holding up flames.

The sky is blue, the mountains are green — yet now such nature is engulfed in flames.
Everywhere, there are emergencies. The Earth is wheezing in pain.

Will there be a tomorrow for TOMORROW FIELD?
I wonder.

Hiroshi Sugimoto