Borrowed Scenery: Experiencing Shakkei at Elmhurst Art Museum
Last Friday, I had the chance to step into a brand-new exhibition at the Elmhurst Art Museum called Shakkei—a Japanese word that translates to “borrowed scenery.”
The concept comes from traditional Japanese garden design, where natural landscapes are intentionally woven into architectural spaces. Instead of building a wall to block a mountain, for example, the design frames the mountain as part of the view. It’s about merging what is “inside” with what is “outside.”
Walking through the opening, I was struck by how differently each artist embodied this idea. Both perspectives are rooted in their own personal histories and experiences, yet they share a common thread: a willingness to blur boundaries and invite us to see ourselves and our surroundings through more than one lens.
That’s part of what resonated with me so deeply. In my own art practice, I’m often gathering inspiration from what’s around me—textures on a city wall, colors from a trip, even small details I notice in daily life. I love translating those surroundings into layers on a canvas or pages in an art journal. It’s something I’m exploring more and more, not only in my personal work but in what I want to teach others: how to notice the world around you and let it filter into your creative expression.
Shakkei reminded me of this same principle—how we’re always borrowing scenery, whether it’s literal landscapes or the emotional landscapes of our own experiences.
Yesterday, I enjoyed listening to their artist talk. It was so insightful and thought provoking how using space can influence your art and your art can influence the space. My favorite quote from Bob yesterday was “It is what it is until you will what will be”. You can follow these artist on IG here and here.
What do you think of this concept Shakkei? Let me know your thoughts below.