I heard that a “cute illustration exhibition is on” on the fourth floor of Tenmaya Kurashiki, about a two-minute walk from JR Kurashiki Station, so I went to check it out right away.
It was Fujikawa Mari illustration Exhibition, held from August 24 to September 13, 2022.
As soon as you step into the venue, you’re surrounded by a soft, pastel-colored atmosphere.
I enjoyed viewing the works with a sense of excitement.
The information presented here was current when this article was published in October 2022. Please note that it may differ from the current information.
Introducing the works
Here are some of the works that stood out at the venue and left a particularly strong impression.
“Mamakari,” “Hoshi Tako,” and the Seto-Ohashi Bridge
Displayed prominently at the front of the venue, the octopus, which is amusing enough to make you chuckle, catches the eye.
Apparently, this illustration was created to promote tourism in Okayama.
What kind of impression of Okayama would someone unfamiliar with the area get from seeing this work?
This work is also available as a postcard, sold at places such as the Kibi Service Area (outbound) on the Sanyo Expressway.
Laundry
I couldn’t help smiling and thinking, “Even the things hanging out to dry are cute!”
There’s even a mask hanging out to dry, evoking the current era (the COVID-19 pandemic).
Doing tedious housework while imagining this illustration would probably make it more fun.
A love of movies
This work is described as recreating the world of a movie after enjoying a favorite film.
Even famous movies take on a gentle, less edgy feel in Fujikawa’s style.
About Fujikawa Mari, the artist behind the exhibition
Fujikawa Mari is an illustrator whose work is based mainly in Okayama City and Kurashiki City.
At the entrance to the venue, Fujikawa introduced herself as follows.
I work in illustration and design in Okayama City.
In my twenties, I created digital illustrations, coloring them on a computer for work, and made illustrations as a private hobby, coloring them with acrylic gouache on canvas.
After that, I devoted myself to raising my two children for a period and also cared for my parents, so during most of my thirties I had almost no time to create for myself or pursue hobbies.
When I was thinking, “I’d like to draw illustrations again, even though I don’t have much time,” I was struck by an illustration my child had made as a craft in the living room.
They had cut up origami paper and drawn just “two dots” with a marker, yet had made a cute face.
My child’s illustration, finished in just a few minutes, had so much charm that I thought, “Maybe I can do this, even with the little time I have now…”
I began experimenting with and creating “a world of illustrations made by cutting and pasting paper.”
The years in my thirties, when I was working so hard at raising children and caring for my parents, are over, but I continue to explore in greater detail and create works using the world and expressive techniques of cut-and-paste illustration.
Reading this candid account made me even more interested in Fujikawa and her artistic world.
Interview with Fujikawa Mari
Fujikawa gives a gentle impression.
She told us about the world she creates through her work.
What techniques do you use for your illustrations?
Fujikawa (honorific omitted)
All the works in this exhibition are collage-style cut-and-paste illustrations.
I paint the cut pieces of paper with a paint called acrylic gouache, then paste them together piece by piece.
What do you enjoy about your work, and what makes you happy?
Fujikawa
With art as a hobby, there’s the joy of being able to draw freely.
When I’m commissioned to create something, I’m thinking about how it will be received or whether it will help a company’s sales, so it’s a different kind of enjoyment.
There’s pressure, but that can be fun too.
I had a lot of freedom when creating the work promoting tourism in Okayama, and I really enjoyed it.
It was also made into a postcard.
I wondered whether postcards would sell these days, but they’ve already been reordered.
I’m also happy that people choose them as souvenirs.
How have your feelings changed since you resumed your work after things settled down with childcare and caregiving?
Fujikawa
Because there was a time when I couldn’t work even though I wanted to, when I got my free time back, there was a period when I felt that even spending time with friends was a waste.
I wanted to draw so badly that I sometimes turned down invitations to have tea or lunch.
The pent-up desire to draw was so intense that there was a time when I begrudged the time spent with friends and kept drawing instead.
But then I suddenly realized something.
My friends had listened to me when I was struggling with childcare or stressed by caregiving, and I realized how lonely it was not to stay in touch with them.
When I started meeting people, enjoying myself, and making an effort to go out, my artistic world expanded, and it even led to unexpected work.
It’s wonderful how connections between people can grow.
What kind of work would you like to create from now on?
Fujikawa
I’d like to keep creating art that people can enjoy looking at and that puts them in a peaceful frame of mind.
I don’t like art that doesn’t make me feel happy when I look at it.
For example, The Scream by Munch (laughs).
I hope to use my strength in illustration to help energize people and communities by promoting tourism in the prefecture and local businesses.
I also sell some of my illustrations as postcards, choosing designs that make people feel like sending them to someone.
I often send thank-you notes, so I’d like to create more works that people can look at, feel warmed by, and use to convey their feelings by adding a message.
These days, you can get in touch instantly by email or LINE, but sending a postcard deliberately feels more thoughtful, and I like that.
From the Writer
After leaving Fujikawa Mari’s exhibition, I felt somehow lighter.
Fujikawa Mari is expanding the world of her work while also building connections with people.
I’m looking forward to seeing what she does next.
When you need a lift or want to feel a little gentler, why not let Fujikawa Mari’s work soothe you?
Fujikawa Mari illustration Exhibition details
| Name | Fujikawa Mari illustration Exhibition |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 24 to September 13, 2022 |
| Location | 1-7-1 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Free |
| Website | life & illustration | Fujikawa Mari portfolio & days |
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