ART LIVES TORIDE Where Art Is Born

I started living in Toride because of the Toride campus of the Tokyo University of the Arts. I went to an art prep school in Tokyo only during the winter and just before entrance exams. For the boarding house, we had the atmosphere like “it can’t be other than Toride? The rent is super cheap.” I literally believed this and started living in Toride.

Six years have passed since then, and I am now an upstanding Toride citizen.
I usually create works that create some new image by dropping a visual image into a space while focusing on the relationship between ordinary/extraordinary as the main pillar. I have a wide range of curiosity and often compound various materials and methods of expression to create the final output.

《Copy and Paste series》is a series of photographs that attempts to capture the real and digital worlds in terms of “texture.” First, real landscapes are photographed and converted to digital, and then prints of these images are output as “objects” and placed as textures in the real world. Then the camera, not the human eye, finally captures it as a single image.
This is a series of works that attempts to capture the sense of discomfort that arises and the feeling of experiencing analog VR in the real world.

《Copy and Paste series》写真, 2019年

《Copy and Paste series》Photos, 2019
My grandfather was very influential in my decision to pursue a career in the arts. My grandfather loved painting and DIY, or rather, making things as a part of his life, and with a younger sister, two years younger than me, and a fondness for him myself, I spent most weekends at his house when I was in kindergarten. There I would watch my grandfather draw pictures, play with his handmade toys, and imitate him by copying the contents of his large collection of illustrated books for some reason. The memories of those days are deeply connected to what I am doing now, and I deeply feel that the origin of my creativity is my grandfather’s existence.

In 2021, there are quite a few big events ahead of us, such as study abroad, job hunting, and participation in an art festival. Beyond my individual activities, I would also like to continue the activities of Aomame Classico, which is a unit I started last year.

Recently, I feel that my range as a creator has expanded more than ever. The same is true of my work as a project leader, designer, workshop instructor, and, as in this case, photographer too. I have come to realize that I am not just working with my hands to create artworks, but that what was a byproduct of my original activities is now within me as an element that connects me to society. Therefore, I hope to look at one thing from multiple angles and produce output with greater precision in a wide range of forms, while making use of my experience and knowledge.

And I hope that it answers our own questions or helps someone else. I think art is important for society. However, I thought that the weight of this word “important” might change depending on the situation. At least I am keenly aware that I am saved by art. The reason I continue to create is because I feel that my world is expanding more and more through creation.

It allows me to experience many different worlds, such as the creation of things I have never seen before with my own hands, and encounters with interesting people that I would not have met if I had lived a normal life. It also greatly stimulates my mind and sensibility, and is a guideline for my life. I don’t feel that I am continuing to do it, but I think it has become a part of my life’s work.