Artist Interviews

Interview with artist Yoshimi Kanou. Your strength and vulnerability are what makes you beautiful! 

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In conversation with Yoshimi Kanou, we talk about her life as an artist. Please enjoy reading this interview by Imoko Ichinose! Interview with artist Yoshimi Kanou. Your strength and vulnerability are what makes you beautiful!  I grew up surrounded by animals, the ocean on one side and the mountains on the other side. Your works are noted for the patchwork animal features (the cut-and-paste expressions of various cloth and art materials). In this interview, I would like to dig deeper to find out a little more about your creativity and work style. Have you always been an animal person? I was born in Matsue City in Shimane prefecture. I grew … Read more

Interview with Nihonga artist, Maria Mizoguchi “I want to live to be 120 and continue painting!”

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Interview with Nihonga artist Maria Mizoguchi by art consultant Takashi Watari. Maria will hold a solo exhibition at the Isetan Urawa store in Saitama City starting December 31, 2024. Please enjoy! Related article: Interview with Nihonga artist, Maria Mizoguchi Interview with Nihonga artist, Maria Mizoguchi; “I want to live to be 120 and continue to paint!” I want this exhibition to invite good fortune in the New Year You’ll have a solo exhibition from December 31st over the New Year, at the Isetan Urawa store in Saitama. This past October, you held a trio exhibition in the same space with Rina Hasegawa and Hiromi Torimoto. In the October exhibition, I … Read more

Painting as a hobby never crossed my mind – Interview with Nihonga artist, Rie Saito

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Interview with Nihonga artist, Rie Saito. Saito will hold a solo exhibition at Isetan Urawa Store starting December 4, 2024. Please enjoy reading this interview by the art consultant Takashi Watari! Related article: Interview with artist, Rie Saito (part 1)Related article: Interview with artist, Rie Saito (part 2) Radio version, AI voice reading (Youtube) Painting as a hobby never crossed my mind – Interview with Nihonga artist, Rie Saito Ideas come to me at night; I make refined sketches in the morning. Your solo exhibition is coming up soon and I understand you must be busy. What kind of schedule do you keep every day? I used to plan my … Read more

The artist who depicts animals in ruined settings, with a love for both life and what has been lost – Interview with artist, Nanako Kashiwagi

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I had the pleasure of interviewing Nihonga artist Nanako Kashiwagi. Enjoy the interview! Interview with artist, Nanako Kashiwagi Childhood Struggles: Moving Frequently and Finding Solace in Zoos  Thank you for joining us today. Could you start by telling us a little about your childhood? Absolutely. As a child, I was really passionate about drawing. From my earliest memories, I was always doodling, creating little sketches whenever I had the chance. I enjoyed playing outside too—tag and the swings with friends from kindergarten—but drawing was what I truly loved. I’d often draw animals, family, and friends. When I was in early elementary school, my parents often took me to the zoo … Read more

A picture book with a happy ending – Interview with artist, Marie Otsuka

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In conversation with Marie Otsuka, who will be holding a solo exhibition at Isetan Niigata from November 20th, we talk about her life as an artist. Please enjoy reading this interview by Imoko Ichinose. Interview with artist, Marie Otsuka – A picture book with a happy ending Made in Nagaoka short short Thank you for taking the time for this interview today. You majored in architecture at university – did you start painting from an early age? I grew up drawing since I was very young, and my paternal grandparents used to take my doodles on the backs of flyers so they could frame and keep them. The scribbles and … Read more

O Come sages, monsters, and me too!Welcome to the Dragon’s Palace of Reiwa (part 1) – Interview with Nihonga artist Rie Saito

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Interview with Nihonga artist, Rie Saito. Please enjoy reading this interview by the FFD editorial team! Interview with Nihonga artist Rie Saito (part 1) I won’t listen to my teacher; I’m painting from my heart! Thank you for taking the time for this interview today. What was your first encounter with drawings? Thank you for having me. I guess my first time would have been at the age of three, tagging along with my mother, going to an art class and copying her drawing. What kinds of pictures were you drawing? I’m told that my drawings were very childlike, such as drawings of an onigiri and chestnut smiling and holding … Read more

Drawing the heart and soul in the form of a cat – Interview with Nihonga artist Maria Mizoguchi

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Interview with the Nihonga artist, Maria Mizoguchi. Please enjoy! Interview with Nihonga artist Maria Mizoguchi Growing up, spending countless hours making art and playing with animals What were you like as a little girl? I was a very active child, always finding places to run around in, and literally running in the nearby parks every day from morning to evening. From a young age, before going to preschool, I loved making snails out of cardboards or drawing pictures. I think I was two or three years old at the time. I’d always enjoyed having a creative outlet as a young child. Oh! You were quite busy even before preschool! When … Read more

The Cedar tree is like a grandfather to me, it’s why I paint trees – Interview with Nihonga artist Masami Shitara (part 1)

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Growing up in Yamagata, Masami was surrounded by trees, which deeply influenced her paintings. Please enjoy reading this interview by the FFD editorial team! Interview with Nihonga artist Masami Shitara (part 1) I started drawing thanks to a set of crayons and a sketchbook given to me by my grandfather Thank you for taking the time for this interview today. What got you into drawing when you were little? My grandfather gave me a set of crayons and a sketchbook for my birthday, and that was how I fell in love with drawing. What a lovely gift. What kind of drawings did you do at that early age? I used … Read more