The basic idea of Rebirth Bears is “recycling.” Each work represents trees in New York City and are named for various types of trees. I used wooden boxes that I found on the street to make them.

At that time, I really wanted to break my rules and habits and create pieces using charcoals, papers, and acrylics on rectangular forms. Then, I suddenly got the idea to make a “bearömixx” version of trees in New York City by using these boxes, which were really ironic and fit my feelings at that moment.

So, I observed many trees in the city over and over and chose materials that I had never used before.

This series is still ongoing.