Oni

“Ikigai” is a Japanese word defining your personal ‘reason for being’ by weaving your talents, passions, profession, and what you have to give to the world. To have Ikigai is to be balanced in all aspects of living.

This project did not exist until I was worthy enough to understand what that meant. Every piece has a meaning that surpasses face value and incites reflection. The handles are modeled after the Torri gates that represent the transition from the mundane to the sacred. The inscription translates to ‘Smoke In Style’ which reminds me that smoking is a choice that I choose to partake in daily, and I do it humbly with style. The vast white space is a blank slate for me to use as a mental playground, reminisce about past transgressions or visualize a new concept. The half-faced Oni is a constant reminder that fear is nothing more than a tool to use on itself.