Interview
Ogawa Motoko
Ogawa Motoko was born in 1994 in Sakaide City, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. From an early age, she loved painting, sports and cats. For her, exercise, art and cats are indispensable in life. With a height of 173 cm, she was highly involved in sports throughout school. She played basketball in elementary school, badminton in junior high school, and volleyball in high school. Spending a lot of time in sporting activities meant she had to spend less time on art and drawing, which she also enjoyed.
After high school, she went to junior college, but in 2018, she decided to pursue education in fashion. Her art focuses on clothing and illustrations, with her illustrations created using mainly colored pencils and pens. For her clothe designs, she explores possibilities using various materials.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I was born and still live in a town called Shutter Town. It used to be a prosperous town and because I was constantly looking at a dark city, I was really drawn to colorful pencils and crayons. I then started drawing pictures. I didn't know much about fashion, so everything felt fresh and artistic. Now, if there is a white wall, I think of colorful things that I want to fill that wall with.”
“Colorful art is visually energizing. I think the easiest way for people to smile is to be surrounded by colors.”
What inspires you most?
“I stayed in Europe for almost two weeks on a junior college study trip. I still vividly remember the scenery of places in Paris, Florence and Italy. I also visited the Ferragamo Museum and the GUCCI Museum. From then, my inspiration evolved steadily. The beautiful cityscape inspired me.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“The most common of my works are those that use a lot of colors. People who see my work always say that looking at the colors makes them feel better. To me, colorfulness represents a mixture of various emotions. Colorful art captures fun, sadness, pain, and things that you don't always realize exist in harmony. I think humans are like that too.”
How would you describe your work?
“I make illustrations and costumes as a hobby. Colored pencils and pens are what I mainly use for painting. I use various materials to make my costumes. Actually, I use everything as a material. I once used the trash I picked up on the beach for my costume. Interesting materials always expand my senses.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I have little knowledge of art, as a result, no artist has really influenced me. However, my current sensibilities were formed by looking at the dark cityscape where I live.”
What is your creative process like?
My ideas comes to me when I'm walking in nature, playing with cats, or looking at beautiful cityscapes. Next, I will sketch the ideas that come to my mind. From there, I will start the actual work. When making a dress, I start off by drawing a pattern. If it is an illustration, I will draft it. When making it, I concentrate so calmly that I forget the time. For costumes, the material can be anything as long as it is a ‘material that can be worn’. I’ve used garbage, tatami helicopters, tent fabrics, etc. as materials in the past. Anything can be used as a material, that way art is a lot more fun.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I think artists are professionals who can put their thoughts into their work. At various points, art makes people smile and at other times it can be a satirical expression for something outrageous. Artists can evoke emotions through art. I think I can communicate any force without a weapon.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I exhibited work at a pre-event at the Setouchi Triennale. Recently, I showed my illustration work for the first time in a group exhibition .”
Instagram: @ogawa_motoko
