Hendrikka Waage

The Sacred Space
Acrylic, acrylic marker, and oil on canvas
100 x 100 cm

In this contemplative work, Hendrikka Waage reflects on the lasting influence of Japanese culture on her artistic vision. Having lived in Tokyo in her twenties, its philosophy and symbolism have quietly shaped her thinking and life’s work.

The vivid red torii gate — traditionally placed at the entrance of Shinto shrines — symbolizes the transition from the mundane to the sacred. It marks the boundary between the ordinary world and the space where deities reside. In Waage’s interpretation, this threshold becomes deeply personal.

The sacred self is not external, but internal — an inner sanctum within each person, a place of peace, clarity, and divine connection. The poised female figure stands beside the torii not as a passive observer, but as a reflection of this inner passage, inviting the viewer to recognize their own sacred space within.