“Transcendence” – Kerama Islands, Okinawa, Japan circa 2023 by Michelle A. Weiss

Transcendence began with my earliest diving experiences in Okinawa, Japan, particularly in the waters surrounding the remote and virtually untouched Kerama Islands. Diving forced me into a physical and emotional state unlike anything on land—one where fear, stillness, and awe coexist. Beneath the surface, I felt suspended, aware of my vulnerability, yet deeply calm.

That experience directly shaped my material choices in this work. The sea urchin spines and staghorn coral used were not collected ceremonially; they were found—scattered, washed ashore, embedded in stone. Their conditions mirrored the unpredictability I felt underwater and, more broadly, in life itself.

The spines are arranged in vertical ascent to evoke order and clarity, a movement toward higher insight. In contrast, the coral is bound and constrained, representing the emotional and psychological entanglements that often anchor us. Together, these elements reflect a balance between struggle and growth.

For me, the creative process parallels diving. Both require trust, restraint, and the willingness to surrender control. Transcendence is less about overcoming difficulty and more about finding stillness within it—about discovering meaning by remaining present beneath the surface.