Fukuyama is a multi-disciplinary artist from Kumamoto, Japan, who lives and works in San Diego. Her practice spans many media and explores the interactions of color, light and shadow in pursuit of a deeper understanding of our visual perception. During the seemingly insurmountable troubles of the pandemic – social justice movements, gun violence and economic inequality – she found relief in the study of starlings. These small blackbirds collectively, in large flocks, transform fluidly from one shape to another as they fly, and do so by coordinating with only the closest seven neighbors. Fukuyama creates a visual representation of individuality, community, and society in infinite loops, each small piece influencing the color and shape of the whole, and revealing how the seemingly impossible becomes possible by taking responsibility for the “closest seven.”

Terminal 2 East, Pre-Security, Checkpoint 6