I always have the same theme at the bottom of my heart. It is to express what people cannot see and cannot express, such as space, air, time, and distance. I always try to depict the colorless transparency that exists between the eye and the object, rather than using objects as a medium for unrealistic expression.

There are many thrilling experiences in the process of creation, such as a motif or a stain that is about to be erased creating an unexpected effect, or a phrase that jumps into your eyes or ears and leads you to the completion of the work. I value such “waste” and “noise”. The countless cracks and scratches that I intentionally create are one such example, and recently I have often attached foreign objects and ready-made items to my works. My theme for the future is to weave “trivial myths” through my works and exhibition spaces.

The relationship between a painter and a model is similar to that between a cook and an ingredient. No matter how good a cook you are, if the ingredients are not delicious, you have nothing to show for it. Many women have helped me to become the person I am today. That’s why I want to be able to depict not only the superficial beauty but also the inner strength and kindness of women. I hope that the women depicted in my works will remain with me for a long time to come, and I believe that this will be my way of repaying the women who supported me. (From WORKSOFKENTANAKAJIMA)

I use metal forging and engraving techniques. I cut out animals and ordinary scenes from everyday life and make them into works of art. I hope you can feel the fascination of metal materials.

I mainly create works using cats and people as motifs. I hope I could touch someone’s heartstrings by sublimating what I am attracted to and what I find fragile and beautiful into my works through my own filter.   Masaaki Hikita HP http://www.masaakihikida.com/

Ayaka Umeda pursues new pictorial expression using the traditional dyeing technique of wax dyeing. Wax dyeing is a pattern-dyeing technique in which heated wax is dipped into a brush and allowed to permeate the cloth, thus preventing the dye from entering the permeated area. The reason why Umeda expresses herself through dyeing is because she feels the possibility of expressing a world beyond her imagination. The dye particles that move on the water cannot be completely controlled. Unlike painting, dyeing is said to be something you “become” rather than something you “do,” and it sometimes creates a world that no one could have imagined. Umeda expresses various themes with wax dyeing based on the nature around her which she has been familiar with since her childhood, out of her urge to see the new world created by dyeing. Ayaka Umeda HP https://ayakaumeda-art.com//

It is said that the movement of the moon is linked to the ebb and flow of the tides, affecting everything from the birth of new life to the internal cycles of animals. I chose the moon as a symbol of the source of life. Everyone has a memory of a night when they looked up at the moon. I hope to express the nostalgia that we all have. Tomoharu Okamura HP TOP  

I continue to paint water as a motif. This is because I am fascinated by the mystery and power of life-giving water. In my paintings, both the rich curves and the legal straight lines created by nature are equally encompassed in one organic world. Flowers, goldfish, and seaweed are also depicted as happy symbols around water, and I want to infuse my work with the aesthetic and fundamental sense of color that they reflect in the water. Kaoru Kan HP https://www.kaorukan.com/

Bridley, a tin bird, was born as a symbol of time while drawing many old toys. He can’t fly no matter how much he winds the spring, but he is good at jumping. Until the spring gets rusty and stops working. Kenji Shimizu HP http://www.kenji-shimizu.com/indexpage.html

It depicts the breath of life, interwoven with small animals and plants living in the wind and the big nature. I hope it will spread your imagination as fresh and clean as the latter. Kazuyuki Sudo HP http://sutooo.net/

I believe that art is free for both the artist and the viewer. I would be happy if the world I want to express matches the world of someone who sees my work. I want to keep drawing my dream in the reality of creation.

No matter how happy or sad we are, no matter what the weather is like, the four seasons always come and go, and the greenery of the trees and plants remind us of the seasons with their gentle flowers. I am always grateful for the unchanging nature of the seasons, which gives me strength and kindness.

I mainly create animal and plant paintings. I find animals adorable, and at the same time, I am fascinated by their high mobility and vitality. I hope to express their loveliness and the dignified beauty of life from my own point of view.