1761 OKU a SPATIAL RESPONSE of INWARDNESS -Gautam Shah
OKU is a Japanese spatial response to the idea of inwardness. Oku could be, an impression, a sense, or a reality, of getting involved further with a space. Oku, as an experience, real or virtual, is about the process of delving deeper. As a process it involves, unfathomable depth and un-notable directions. The path reveals, a non-ending discovery, one similar to the revelation of multi-layered entities, onions or the mythical 36 Chamber of Shaolin.
Depth and darkness are intimately synonymous, and enhance the inwardness. The boundaries or the ends of the layers offer a distinguished realm. These spots often defined by the contrast or white spaces of no occupation. These spatial creases are the interventions, offering both, temporal and spatial relief, respite and recapitulation.
Oku is about the discoveries on the approach. For the purpose, scenes were borrowed through accidental and strategic apertures. Paths were made non-linear leading to non-specific ends. And, the start or end points are fuzzed to dissolve the sense of depth.
The layers are existent physical elements, or transient impressions. The focus remains, on the search, discovery, understanding of new encounters, through the unintentional roaming.
Oku has been exploited in art, architecture and other expressions, to cause new spatial leads, enhance attachment to places and lead to nonspecific ends.
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