Mieko Nakamura

Artist Statement

My work was born out of my daily life.
The hearts that spring up every day and the hearts of emotions and sorrows make up one picture at a time.
For example, the heart of thinking about a family living with a father, mother, brother and sister, the heart of nostalgia for the blue of the sea and sky in my hometown, the heart of raising children hard, the heart of traveling to a foreign country, etc.
A heart that springs up ramblingly, but it is a "flower that blooms in your heart" if you are alive.

In these productions, I find fun among the painting materials, and the brush moves with the music, and it becomes one painting, calligraphy, or sumi-e. Alternatively, it becomes a tanka, haiku, or essay.
Simply place colors and shapes in the right places, regardless of genre or material. It is largely due to the inspiration and sensibility gained from Japanese culture.

In my daily life, I value cheerfulness, energy, and humor. I hope that those who have seen my work will also have a bright, energetic and enjoyable daily life.
At present, problems such as various conflicts and global warming have already been piled up in the world. Now is the time to treat people with this simple and peaceful spirit! I want to tell you.

What’s your background?

I am sure that I have loved pictures since I was born.

When I was in the third grade of elementary school, I suddenly saw the ukiyoe of "The Fifty-three Stages of the Tokaido" and was very moved even as a child, because there were no cultural books or magazines like this in my house at that time. This was the first time I came into contact with such culture.

What does it mean to you to win the Collectors Art Prize?

I had been pursuing my own identity within the gap time and gap place for many years.

In those gaps, I came into contact with various aspects of Japanese culture. I learnt calligraphy, tea ceremony and flower arrangement.
I also wrote haiku, tanka and essays in the gaps.
In terms of painting, I also studied oil painting in university classes, with a passion for Van Gogh.
I learnt so many things, But that didn't mean there was anything that I could say "This is me!
One day, at the age of 46, I met a great artist, Tadahiro Ono, who in the 1950s was known as the 'Ono of the world'.
His teaching was very strict.
It was important to be free from everything and everyone.
I painted with the vigour of giving everything I had learnt so far in my own way.
This has led to the contemporary artistic paintings I am drawing now.

All the lessons I learnt were a series of gaps in my busy life.
And at the same time, when I paint contemporary artistic paintings, I also need a slightly bigger place. On sunny days, the space between my house and my neighbour's house was my studio.

I think the award is the result of many efforts.

I take this award as an encouragement to pursue more and more of my own personality.

What do you think is the role of art in the world today?

Art can give free ideas, free thoughts, free success, kindness and warmth not only to oneself but also to the viewer.

It can express on a single screen what the universe, nature, man, philosophy and art are. Art is the most concise, clear and sublime tool of expression available to human beings. Now is the time to contribute to world peace through art.

What would it be if you could change one thing about the art world?

Art is a way for children and adults, regardless of age, to express their honest sensitivity and honest emotions.

I believe that by nurturing respect for each other through art, we can change the world to a more peaceful and tranquil one.

What are your most significant professional achievements?

My work has not been related to art or painting for many years.
I got married normally, raised my children, did housework and worked for a living for many years. So I have no professional achievements. But the wisdom of life that I have learnt in my normal life has manifested itself in the paintings I make, and also in the style in which I create them.

The theme of my production became: 'Life is a journey where the heart blooms'.

What do you wish to tell viewers about your work that might not come out explicitly? What do you hope to inspire with your artwork?

Living a lively, energetic and cheerful daily life will ultimately make you and the people around you happy and cheerful.

I want to tell people to live a healthy and cheerful life, because daily life is what makes our hearts blossom.

What advice would you give to the upcoming generation of artists?

It is not important to be pedantic or to be immediately accepted by others.

First of all, it is important to learn what is interesting to you and establish your uniqueness.

Uniqueness emerges when you take what you have learnt and create it in a powerful, bold and instantaneous way! I would like to tell you that.

In what direction would you like to see your career go in the next five years?

I have three series of works as follows.

“Heart Flower" using irogami

“Heart Flower Sumi" using mainly sumi ink

“Heart Flower Blue” using Klein blue and oil paints.

There are a large number of works in each of these categories.

Although the techniques are different, all the works are bright and cheerful and emit a sense of humour.

For the next five years, I want to continue to create every day, let my heart bloom every day and present these works.

 In five years' time, I want to hold the exhibition 'Flower Blooming in My Heart - Mieko Nakamura' in a big venue!

And then...

Finally, I want Mieko Nakamura's work to spread to the eyes of people around the world and have a big impact.

In the future, I want my paintings to have a positive influence on children, just as the ukiyo-e I saw when I was in the third year of primary school inspired me.

Country Japan

Website http://miekonakamura.com