Self-impressions of "Yoshimi Exhibition" Our Country - Where No Art Is Required In The Daily Life Yoshimi After almost a half year of depression from my one-man exhibition in November, 1996, I could finally pull myself together. I don't believe that I can get relief from this sense of emptiness which I feel every time after my exhibition is over, as long as I continue some creative activities in Japan. Not only mine but also the exhibitions of modern art held in Japan may bring me a kind of sadness. The artists disclose our egos and severely criticize the society through our works. However, even though we shout them out, it would end up a mere masturbation, if there are only a few people to see our works. A painting can't become attractive unless it has people to come up and try to appreciate it. Art isn't required in the daily life in Japan. People don't have a habit to decorate their rooms with paintings. They only think of doing so when they happened to become making a life better than the standard and gained some sp aces in their walls. But they don't have any favorite artists. They can't have one, because they've never appreciated paintings enough to have an eye for them. Besides, the people who obtained too much money tend to acquire p aintings as a way of investment. What is worse, the paintings purchased for such purposes won't be displayed. I dare not say "Japanese cultural standar d is low," in order to avoid making a conclusion now. If you want to make your living by painting, choose Japanese-style painting and produce kakemonos (Japanese-style hanging pictures). Unfortunately, I c an't do this. I am an artist, doing creative activities in a city named Ham amatsu located in Japan. I sometimes feel it's a shame that I have to spend time for annoying daily chores as a woman and as a wife. I have to earn for my living. As it takes time and money to keep painting, my painting activit ies are restricted in various ways. Not many people support my way of livin g. Probably I had better give up. But why can't I do so? Do I paint becau se I want to be praised by someone? Or because I might be able to become fa mous by a miracle? I can't find good reasons. There might not be any reaso ns. I just come to feel like painting, feel like expressing something in pa intings, and it results in a heap of paintings. Then I begin to wish to exh ibit them to someone. It doesn't matter if they are dogs and cats. And yet , I become depressed to find that the dogs and cats have no abilities to app reciate abstract paintings. I repeat this for many years. When will it end ? But still I want to hold an exhibition in two years. In addition, I can' t stop thinking, "I don't want to display only the pictures for sale." I'd like to express my appreciation to Ms. Hiromi Hosokawa who pantomimed at the opening ceremony, many friends who came to support and encourage me, Ryu ji who wrote a lovely article for me, and my husband who is sympathetic and understand me. May, 1995   Exhibiton Top Next