Ken Higaki

Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA, USA

Artist statement

There are moments in the city when I find myself standing still, staring not at a single point but with a wider lens, trying to take everything in. In one-on-one interactions, there’s a striking beauty in the uniqueness of every individual. Yet, when I observe a busy crowd, there’s an unmistakable sense of wild anarchy. Like different species of animals or insects colliding without regard for one another, each person seems singularly focused on their next need, their next thrill. I believe humans are highly intelligent beings; we’ve built an incredible society with technology, medicine, and entertainment. Yet, our intelligence coexists with an immense capacity for cruelty, rooted in our pride and hypocrisy. We are morally contradictory beings, capable of both kindness and cruelty, struggling with a shared sense of sadness and selfishness. My art, at its core, is an ongoing argument with myself about these contradictions. Is our cruelty simply the product of primal instincts? Despite being the most intelligent species, are we still unable to control our baser urges? Are we feral at heart? Or is our cruelty more deliberate, born from recognizing the humanity in others? Do we treat people horribly because we see them as morally culpable, as rivals or threats, as undeserving of what they’ve taken? I don’t want to create a cliché, portraying humans as harmonious with nature. Instead, I depict humanity as a creature cursed by pride, a parasite to the natural world. In my work,...

Artwork