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────────ABOUT ARTIST TV INTERVIEW────────
" Rika Otomo "
Hello everyone! Welcome to ABOUT ARTIST TV!
ABOUT ARTIST TV is an art channel run by the art marketplace "FROM ARTIST."
As some of you may already know, FROM ARTIST publishes an original magazine called "ABOUT ARTIST" that introduces artists' roots and their thoughts on their work.
This art channel is a rare opportunity to invite artists to speak directly to us about the thoughts they put into their work. Please enjoy until the very end.
All of the works introduced here are one-of-a-kind pieces currently for sale at FROM ARTIST.
If you see any works that interest you, please check them out using the links.
Now, let's welcome today's guest, Rika Otomo! Rika, nice to meet you!
Artist:
Thank you very much! I was really looking forward to being able to show you my work in detail today!
──Self -introduction
FROM ARTIST Staff:
First, please give us a brief introduction about yourself!
Artist details page: https://from-artist.com/collections/ootomorika
Artist:
I mainly paint abstract paintings using acrylic paints. I think nature and memories are the driving force behind my creations. I continue to work on visualizing the invisible through abstract expression. There was a break for a while, but I started exhibiting again a few years ago.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
"Making the invisible visible" is a wonderful perspective. I was reminded that the work exudes a sense of nostalgia and warmth precisely because it is painted while feeling nature and memories.
──Introduction to the work
"morning"
Work details page: https://from-artist.com/products/kesa
FROM ARTIST Staff:
Now, let me introduce the first piece right away. The first piece I'd like to introduce is this one, "Morning"!
What thoughts and themes are contained in this work?
Artist:
With my works before this one, I had a general idea of what I wanted to draw in my head, and I would work towards that goal, but from this one onwards, I started to draw without knowing the finished product. In that sense, this is a commemorative work. I get nervous because I don't know how the finished product will turn out, but the joy when it's finished is all the more intense. From this point onwards, I also started to add titles to my works after the fact.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
From the very first piece, it's a wonderful, memorable piece, and you can tell that special feelings are put into it! By shifting to a style of "drawing without seeing the finished product," your work has gained more freedom and improvisation, and I feel that a new sensation is being conveyed to the viewer.
The simple yet bold brushstrokes and the balance of colors are very appealing, and the vivid reds and yellow-greens in particular create a rhythm on the canvas. The use of white space is also exquisite, creating an abstract expression that stimulates the viewer's imagination.
Artist:
That's right. There's a sense of tension in writing without a set goal, and I thought it was a perfect title for "morning," the start of a day heading into the unknown.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
I see! That's a wonderful origin for the title! The sense of tension and excitement that arises from moving forward without deciding on a goal is strongly linked to the word "morning," and I think that feeling really comes across when you look at the piece. It's a piece that really gives you the feeling that something new is about to begin!
Are there any points you would like us to pay attention to?
Artist:
The point I want you to pay attention to here is the "white space" you mentioned. I think the white space and each color create a rhythm together. I hope you enjoy that rhythm.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
Your choice of colors is also wonderful, and while the bold use of near-primary colors such as red, black, yellow-green, and orange creates a harmonious and visually pleasing overall effect. It is striking that the colors do not clash but seem to be in dialogue with each other. Do elements such as the black dots in your work have any symbolic meaning?
Artist:
There's nothing special about it, but I thought it would be better if the black dot was this size here, and I thought it would have a nice effect on the screen.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
I see! So rather than trying to give it meaning, you felt it was necessary here out of instinct! That's why I understand why the whole thing fits together so well. It's also fun to be able to imagine all sorts of things as a viewer!
Above all, the momentum and dynamism of the brush strokes are what make this piece so appealing. There is no hesitation in each stroke, and you can sense the energy as if it captured "this moment." What is your favorite part of this piece, and what was the last stroke you added?
Artist:
Thank you. I think this piece has a free intertwining of white and colored parts. I think that's the key point. The last thing I added was the black dots.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
What kind of room would you recommend displaying this piece in?
Artist:
Is this a room you would like to brighten up? Since it's not a large piece, it would also work well in a bathroom.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
It's the perfect piece for any place you want to add brightness. The size makes it easy to incorporate into a compact space like a bathroom, which is great! It's small but has a presence, and it seems to cheer you up when you see it!
"Ordinary, Lovely Moments"
Work details page: https://from-artist.com/products/arifuretaitooshiijikan
FROM ARTIST Staff:
Now let's introduce the second work! This work is "Ordinary, Lovely Time"!
So, what thoughts and themes are contained in this work?
Artist:
The period when I drew this coincided with the time when my daughter was mentally leaving home. I wasn't conscious of it at the time, but I think that this background probably had an influence.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
What a beautiful and delicate piece... It's like a poem, truly making you feel the "strength that lies within silence." It may seem empty, but it's actually very rich. It conveys everything without saying a word.
The sense of artistic balance that makes the most of the power of "space" is truly impressive. The white texture has great depth, but what materials and techniques did you use?
Artist:
That's right. I layered many layers of white here, and I layered white on top of charcoal pencil drawings, as well as fine-particle white, so there are various layers of white, and I tried to express the beauty of white, which can easily become monotonous, to the best of my ability at the time.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
The softly layered brushstrokes of pale pink and coral are like clouds at dawn, and the softness spreads naturally through the viewer's heart. What sensations did you want viewers to feel through this work?
Artist:
After completing the work, I realized that there is a hidden message in this work about the irreplaceable value and preciousness of the time we take for granted. I hope that you can sense that.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
Are there any points you would like us to pay attention to?
Artist:
The thing I want you to pay attention to here is the harmony between the flow of the lines and the pink floating next to them.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
Although they may appear rough at first glance, they are actually very rhythmic and delicate. They seem to wander across the canvas as if recording the unconscious fluctuations of emotion, breathing life into the entire work. Are the lines running underneath improvised? Or do they represent a motif?
Artist:
When I'm drawing, I'm improvising. When I think about it later, I think it might be the flow of time.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
So what kind of room would you recommend displaying this piece in?
Artist:
I think it exudes a tranquil atmosphere, so I think it would be suitable for a room that you want to decorate with tranquility.
"Backyard Memories"
Work details page: https://from-artist.com/products/uraniwanokioku
FROM ARTIST Staff:
Now let's introduce the third piece! This is "Backyard Memories"!
So, what thoughts and themes are contained in this work?
Artist:
I visualized one of my original landscapes. This is something that I rarely do these days, but I drew it with the thought, "I want to draw something like this."
FROM ARTIST Staff:
It was very interesting, and when I heard it was about "visualizing the original landscape," I was even more drawn in.
It is rare these days to see this piece painted with an image in mind first, and it is clear that a special feeling was put into it.
The first thing that catches your eye is the vibrant and energetic neon green. The vitality and lightness of this color instantly grabs the viewer's eyes and emotions. Is there a specific motif that you had in mind when you created this green shape?
Artist:
That's right. Here, there is a simplification of the scenery I saw as a child, and I wanted to express the kind of universe that a young child feels from the things that are close to them.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
The delicate lines around the piece seem like traces of thought, mixed with the rough look of crayon or pencil. Was there a particular feeling or theme that you valued most when completing this piece?
Artist:
Perhaps it is to ensure that we do not miss the subtle emotional movements of young children.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
Are there any points you would like us to pay attention to?
Artist:
The point I want you to pay attention to here is that the green trapezoid will look different depending on when you look at it. I hope you enjoy the differences.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
This work is like a crossroads between abstraction and emotion, and while it allows for infinite interpretations depending on the viewer, it also has the power to resonate with us somehow. Were there any sounds or smells that came to mind while you were creating this piece?
Artist:
That's a sharp question. At that moment, I was reminded of the faint buzzing of bees and the suffocating air of fresh greenery.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
It's amazing how it leads to such profound expressions that not only stimulate the visual sense, but also the auditory and olfactory senses!
You can see the attention to detail in the work, and the more you look, the more new things you will discover. Do you make any rough drafts?
Artist:
As with all my works, I don't have any rough drafts.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
That's amazing! Creating a work without a draft feels somehow intuitive and free. Perhaps improvising can lead to unexpected discoveries and expressions.
What part was the most fun to draw?
Artist:
The finer the crayon and charcoal pencil parts, the more honest you are with yourself, the more fun you'll have.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
The overall composition is truly beautiful, and while it seems somewhat calculated, it is actually very natural. I am impressed by the ability to convey the abstract theme of "landscapes in memory" so quietly and gently. Please tell us if there are any parts of the materials or techniques you used that incorporate memories or connections to your backyard.
Artist:
The white part of this piece also has several layers. By stacking the layers, I hoped to express the layers of time.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
Thank you! So what kind of room would you recommend displaying this piece in?
Artist:
Although it has many bright colors, it has a nostalgic feel to it, so it would be perfect for a bright and calm room.
"cloud"
Work details page : http://from-artist.com/products/kumo
FROM ARTIST Staff:
Now let's introduce the fourth piece! This is "Clouds"!
So, what thoughts and themes are contained in this work?
Artist:
It's like the pathos of things or fluidity.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
This piece also looks simple at first glance, but on closer inspection there are countless expressions, and it has a depth that seems to change the way people perceive it.
Artist:
Yes, that's right. I painted on linen, which isn't shown here. As a child, I usually painted on paper, not canvas, so painting on a flat support feels very natural to me. I was able to paint more relaxedly than on canvas.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
Are there any points you would like us to pay attention to?
Artist:
The thing I want you to pay attention to here is the fluidity that emanates from the swarm of lines flying freely.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
The bold white space is striking, as if the blank space itself is speaking to you, and there is a sense of strength in the stillness. Is there any special meaning behind this red line?
Artist:
Nothing in particular, but I felt I needed something that would make an impact.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
The sense of balance on the screen is exquisite, and the contrast between the white painted areas and the canvas background color is beautiful, making the eye naturally move. This work can be installed with a pin, but is the canvas material used linen?
Artist:
Yes. It's a rough linen cloth. The side I draw on is actually the back side. But this side made me want to draw on it.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
Textures and brush strokes are visible everywhere, and it's as if the artist's hand movements have been preserved, giving the impression of time. How do you decide when a painting is finished?
Artist:
Sometimes I can make a decision in an instant, but other times I leave it for a while and then when I decide that there's still no need to make any changes, I stop. This painting was the latter.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
I see, so there are times when you can make an intuitive decision and times when you have to watch carefully over time. I think that the process of "leaving it alone" is also an important part!
So what kind of room would you recommend displaying this piece in?
Artist:
This might be a good choice if you want to create an open and airy room.
FROM ARTIST Staff:
thank you!
The free and fluid atmosphere of the work blends into the spacious space, giving it a more open impression!
──Finally
FROM ARTIST Staff:
Today we introduced many wonderful works by Rika Otomo!
Have you found any works you like?
Finally, I would like to ask Otomo Rika about her future activities and give a message to everyone watching today.
Artist:
I was very happy to be able to talk to you all directly today! If there are any works that interest you, please check them out as soon as possible! All of the works introduced today are one-of-a-kind, so it's first come, first served!
FROM ARTIST Staff:
Thank you! Rika Otomo, who we introduced this time, has other fascinating works featured in FROM ARTIST. Please be sure to check them out as well!
Well, see you next time! Thank you!