In One - Kate, Ashokan Lake, NY, part of Pierre Sernet’s One series, the artist brings a traditional Japanese tea ceremony to the open, snow-covered expanse of Ashokan Lake. Framed by a minimalist cube structure, the ceremony unfolds against a backdrop of crisp blue skies and winter landscape, creating a serene and contemplative contrast between the intimate ritual within and the vast, icy wilderness beyond. This juxtaposition of cultural tradition and natural environment invites viewers to reflect on the relationship between human rituals and the natural world.

The cube acts as a fragile boundary, marking a space of calm and mindfulness within the cold, empty landscape. Unlike in bustling urban settings, where the tea ceremony contrasts with the surrounding pace of life, here it resonates with nature’s quiet stillness, as if both ritual and landscape are in harmony. The seated participants, warmly dressed for the weather, embody resilience and adaptation, showing how traditions can coexist with diverse environments.

Through this piece, Sernet underscores the adaptability and universality of the tea ceremony, placing it in a setting that transcends cultural expectations. The isolated lake and snow-covered ground amplify the tranquility of the ritual, suggesting that moments of mindfulness and connection can be found anywhere, regardless of surroundings. Tea Ceremony - Kate, Ashokan Lake, NY serves as a reminder of humanity’s shared need for contemplation, ritual, and communion with nature, bridging cultural practices with universal values in a uniquely harmonious way.