Meet contemporary artist from Nagano, Hikari Shimoda

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born in Nagano Japan in 1984 and started my career as a contemporary artist in 2008. I am presently exhibiting my work internationally.

 

1984年生まれ。日本の長野県出身。2008年より現代美術家としてキャリアをスタートしました。現在では海外を中心に作品を発表しています。

 

Describe the city you’re living in and what it’s like to live there.

Now I live in the mountain area of Nagano prefecture. It is a place with abundant greenery and surrounded by nature. I live with my dog.

 

今は長野県の山間に住んでいます。自然に囲まれていて、緑豊かな所です。犬と二人暮らしです。

 

Now I live in the mountain area of Nagano prefecture. It is a place with abundant greenery and surrounded by nature. I live with my dog.

 

What is the best and worst thing about living in your city?

Living with abundant nature and no stress from other people or man-made objects is the best, but it is inopportune because there is no cultural stimulus.

 

自然が豊かで人や人工物のストレスがない暮らしは最高ですが、文化的な刺激がゼロなので、そこは不便です。

 

Give us 3 words that describe what it’s like to be a creative in your city.

Non essential, meditative, productive.

 

How did you start your career in art?

At first, I was aiming to be a professional illustrator but I wanted to express myself more fully, so my starting point was when I attended an event hosted by Takashi Murakami called GEISAI.

 

当初は仕事としてイラストレーターを目指していましたが、自分自身の表現をしたいと思い、GEISAIという村上隆氏主催のイベントに出た所が出発点です。

 

At first, I was aiming to be a professional illustrator but I wanted to express myself more fully, so my starting point was when I attended an event hosted by Takashi Murakami called GEISAI.

 

Were the people around you supportive of your decision on working as a creative?

My parents said that I should do what I love as a living, so they supported me.

 

好きな事を生業にすべきという両親なので、応援してくれました。

 

What are some goals and ambitions you have for your future work?

I am thinking about how I can comfortably continue the type of creative expression that I want and how I can create those circumstances.

 

どのように自分が望む表現を無理なく続けられるか、その環境をいかに作っていけるかを考えています。

 

I am thinking about how I can comfortably continue the type of creative expression that I want and how I can create those circumstances.

 

If you could collaborate with any person in the world who would it be?

One of my dreams since I was a student is to collaborate with Bjork.

 

学生の頃からBjorkとコラボする事が1つの夢です。

 

What are the biggest challenges you face in working as a creative?

I’m currently rethinking my artistic style because I got fatigued last year. My style is changing with the goal of being able to paint more freely, attractively and reasonably.

 

昨年体調を崩してしまった事もあり、スタイルを見直しています。より自由に、魅力的に、無理なく描ける事を目的として変化しているところです。

 

My family (my mother, sisters), my high school friends, etc. – people who live a so-called “normal” life but they are important to me.

 

How would you describe the women around you?

My family (my mother, sisters), my high school friends, etc. – people who live a so-called “normal” life but they are important to me.

 

家族（母親、妹たち）、高校生時代の友人など。いわゆる「一般的な」人生を歩む人々ですが、私にとって大切な人達です。

 

Were there any local female creatives that you looked up to when you were growing up?

Although they are not women I personally admire, Yayoi Kusama and Chihiro Iwasaki, a book illustrator, are from the same area as me, so I felt that there was a female artist close to me.

 

個人的な憧れの対象ではありませんが、草間彌生さんや絵本作家のいわさきちひろさんなどが地元の出身者ですので、女性のアーティストの存在は身近に感じていました。

 

It is still difficult for women to work as artists but I still feel that the way of thinking in the world has changed significantly since 10 years ago. The world is changing and I feel that I can change it. It’s not impossible to be an artist, life is different for each person, but I think it’s okay to have as many ways of life as there are people.

 

Do you have any advice for other women who are aspiring to work in your field?

It is still difficult for women to work as artists but I still feel that the way of thinking in the world has changed significantly since 10 years ago. The world is changing and I feel that I can change it. It’s not impossible to be an artist, life is different for each person, but I think it’s okay to have as many ways of life as there are people.

 

いまだ女性がアーティストとして活動をする事には困難が多いですが、それでも10年前より世の中の考え方は大きく変わってきていると感じています。世の中は変わっているし、変えていけることを実感しています。活動する事は不可能ではありません、人生は人それぞれ違いますが、人の数だけ活動のスタイルがあって良いと思います。

 

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What type of music do you like to listen to?

I listen to music by Japanese musicians like akeboshi and Sakanaction.

 

akeboshiやサカナクションなど日本のミュージシャンの曲を聴きます。

 

What’s your favorite local food spot?

It is a home-roasted coffee shop. I am also good friends with the owner.

 

自家焙煎のコーヒーショップです。マスターとも仲良しです。

 

Siqi Song asks: What is the best reaction you get when others see your work?

I’m glad that those who see it think about something and express it in their own words.

 

見てくれた方が何かしら考え、ご自分の言葉で表現してくれる事が嬉しいです。

 

Felicia Chen asks: If you could choose a different career path, what would it be?

A manga artist.

 

漫画家になりたいです。

 

What question would you like us to ask the next artist?

I have doubts about my gender, so the questions that categorize women is a little strange. Gender issues are complicated, so I would be grateful if you could pay attention to those issues.

 

私は自分のジェンダーに疑問を持っていますので、女性というカテゴライズの質問に少々違和感があります。

ジェンダーの問題は複雑ですので、そのような部分も気にしていただけたら嬉しいです。

 

 

Photos courtesy of Hikari Shimoda