I grew up with a diverse cultural background. My mother is Japanese and my father is American. I was born and raised in Japan and moved to the United States at the age of twelve. The interplay within my sense of self, woven by the contradictory understanding of the world with eastern and western vantage points have been a driver in my work as an architect and artist to look within and beyond self and culturally imposed boundaries.
I began my studies in Architecture due to its inherent roots into the essence and spirit of the human experience. My understanding of architecture is that movement and energy as the intrinsic building block in context to space and form is created by the radical directness of our intuitive core.
As an artist, this exploration manifests itself into the sincerity and immanent use of material and form as an examination leading toward an effortlessness embodied in a Zen saying of ichi-go ichi-e; ‘one time, one meeting.’ This insight furthers the aspect of ‘making’ and ‘presence’ within my work that stirs the human soul and acts as an impetus for ‘a way of seeing’ into the vastness of creative human potentialities.
Charles S. Ellis RA ncidq
education:
Indiana University in Indianapolis
Master of Fine Arts: Herron School of Art + Design
o program in Furniture Design with emphasis on conception and crafting of studio art furniture.
o additional areas of study: ceramics, glass, sculpture.
o thesis title: ‘Direct RADICAL intuition: DE-centering the black box within MA ‘space-time interval’
The process in the creation of my work in ‘studio art furniture’ and the underlying research has its intentions in the elaboration of how ideas as ‘Direct Radical Intuition’ steeped in an Eastern perspective can be manifested into the ‘presence of making’. Connections are made through the forms of wedges and shims in the works to underpin how the Japanese concept of MA; ‘space- time interval’ and Post Modernist concept of de-centering is ‘working in the works.’
https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/handle/1805/3331
University of Cincinnati
Master of Science in Architecture: College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning
o post professional degree with emphasis on Architectural critique, theory and history for teaching and research.
o thesis title: ‘Direct RADICAL intuition: toward an ‘Architecture of Presence’ through Japanese ZEN Aesthetics’
The formations of Japanese philosophical and religious thoughts are examined culminating in two Zen Buddhist principles; wabi (beautiful poverty) and ki (life force). These ideas are revealed through the representation of Japanese cultural arts; craft arts and martial arts that are Zen in nature. An examination of appropriate contemporary Western philosophical thought/ architectural theory that aligns with or is contrary to Zen aesthetics are used to further clarify the principles with illumination of architectural principles through works of architect; Tadaō Andō.
Ball State University
Bachelor of Architecture: College of Architecture and Planning
o accredited five year professional degree pursuant to Architectural Registration
o thesis title: ‘mushin: ‘no mind’ in the design process’.
Ball State University
Bachelor of Science: Environmental Design with Art Minor
o degree emphasis: architectural design applications w/ additional emphasis in architectural history and philosophy.
o art: emphasis in history, drawing, painting, ceramics and sculpture.
o dance and martial arts: explorations of body movement in architecture- modern, jazz, ballet, folk/ judo.