「描くことは戦い」函館在住"18歳プロ画家"　挑んだ初の大作　そして夢の舞台へ…激動の1年に密着 (22/10/09 10:00)

We featured Akari Fujikura, 18, a professional painter based in Hakodate, Hokkaido, on Mintele in March 2022. Akari's biggest goal, a solo exhibition in Sapporo, began on October 5th. Despite facing the pain of creating her works, she pursued her dream. This is a record of her challenges and growth over the past year. Akari Fujikura (18), professional painter: "I've never really found painting that enjoyable. It's like a battle, a struggle." Akari Fujikura, 18, hails from Imakane Town in southern Hokkaido. Each of her works is unique and vibrant. This up-and-coming artist pours her "cries of the heart" and "conflicts" onto the canvas. It all started two years ago when she appeared on a television program, where her work was highly praised by Sanma Akashiya. Professional painter Akari Fujikura (18): "I originally wanted to make a living from painting, but I gave up because I thought it was impossible for me. But then, after that opportunity, I decided to make a living from painting." In May 2021, she moved to Hakodate and began working as a professional painter. While Akari's popularity is growing, she also faces the pain of creating her works. There have been times when she felt like she was being crushed by the pressure that comes with being a professional. Professional painter Akari Fujikura (18): "It's tough, and I'm a little mentally exhausted." At times like those, it was her family who supported her. Akari's father: "I don't want to end up thinking, 'I wish I had tried harder then,' if I ever give up and quit in the future." Akari's mother: "I just want to make sure I don't have any regrets." Akari held a solo exhibition in Hakodate in March 2022. She seems a little worried about whether anyone will find her work appealing. A man who visited the exhibition said: "I really love the detailed use of color." She said she liked my work. Akari: "What? You're going to buy it? Really?" Man: "I'll buy it." The painting is of her beloved giraffe. She purchased the piece, imbued with the idea that even after it's turned into bones, it will always be by her side. Furthermore, the giraffe connection led to a new encounter. Nakatsuka Tetsuro, who visited the exhibition: "I have a crane at my construction company, and I've added eyes to make it look like a giraffe. She also likes giraffes, so I asked her to paint a picture for me." Nakatsuka Tetsuro, president of a construction company in Fukushima Town, has been decorating his cranes with giraffe patterns for over 20 years in an effort to bring a sense of familiarity to the construction industry. Akari: "This way it's 700,000 yen. It's expensive." Nakatsuka: "What do you think?" Akari: "If it were me, I'd draw it to look like an explosion like this." Nakatsuka: "It explodes, that's nice." Akari: "Are you sure it's okay if it explodes. I'll just draw it all." Nakatsuka: "An explosion is nice. This one's fine, right?" Akari has been offered a big job. She says she also has another painting she'd like to order. Nakatsuka's wife, Mari: "Right now, (our beloved dog, Galois) has a bad thyroid. His skin is bad and he's losing his hair. That's why I want to leave a legacy of my art." Akari: "This one's F8 size. Is it okay if it's child-sized?" Nakatsuka: "You can paint this one too, just go wild." Akari: "Thank you very much. This is crazy, what should I do? There are two pieces. One is F8, the size of a child, and the giraffe heavy equipment is the biggest, F30. This is my first time, so it's crazy, what should I do? I want to look confident, but I'm also happy." The commission totaled approximately 950,000 yen. This is the most expensive commission she has received since going professional. Akari often creates works based on her own ideas. She struggled with the difficulty of turning the client's ideas into reality. Akari: "I still worry that what I envisioned and what the client wanted might be different." Make a living through art, embracing life through art. My profession is a painter. Akari Fujikura is an 18-year-old painter living in Hakodate, Hokkaido. Six months after receiving a request to paint a crane and her beloved dog, she gradually began to think about the piece, but it took shape. Tetsuro Nakatsuka, who commissioned the painting, said: "It's amazing." Akari Fujikura (18), a professional painter, said: "I painted it with the motif of a giraffe crane, which creates children's dreams. This one shows a child's beaming smile." Tetsuro Nakatsuka: "To us, this painting doesn't seem like the past, but like the future. There's a sense of hope, and joy. There are emotional ups and downs." The painting features a giraffe-patterned crane and her beloved dog. Both pieces are uniquely Akari's signature, quirky and powerful works. Tetsuro Nakatsuka: "In a way, it was a chance encounter." Mari Nakatsuka's wife: "(Six months ago), she said she would go straight home if we didn't meet. So I waited in the car." Akari's solo exhib...