Questions for Neri

Introduce yourself...

My name is Shoko ..... AKA Neri. I was born in Okinawa Japan. I went to Senshu college of Science and Technology. I majored in Bio Ecology. After graduating college in 2005, I went to Osaka University of Art where I Majored in Photography. I changed my major to fine art screen printing in 2007. I am currently still a student at Osak University.

My Artist name Neri came from my favorite plant "Negiribana: Spiranthes." As a child I gathered these flowers and brought them home.

Describe your art...

In my art, I always try to create various elements that are interwoven together showing the basic life form which constantly broken down to reform the shape. In the real world, we are also interwoven together. Each incident is connected to other incidents. We influence each other without noticing. This is the reason why my line never ends in one spot. It is always continuous. I am connected to the people viewing my art. I might never see that person in my life. We are connected in a different way. I feel happy about this connection and can never be grateful enough for it. I always try to show this appreciation in my art, but it is beyond my ability. I feel I am blessed. When you look at my art, please spend time and try to communicate with it.

1. What are you currently working on?

I am working on a piece of art that is on a 35 feet long roll of paper. I am thinking about just using a red ball point pen. I always wanted to work on a big piece of art, but I simply do not have the space. I will be able to draw as I unroll the paper. It might take a few years but it will be fun.

2. Why is art important?

I have been asking this question of myself for quite a long time. One day I realized the answer to this question is in my art work. The process went like this... Millions of things are going through my mind while I draw. Family matters, relationships, something that happened the day before or various other things for an example. If I think too much without drawing, I get confused and very negative. If I think of these things while drawing, I usually find the answers to my problems in my art work. Making art is a form of meditation to me. It keeps head straight. I cannot exist without it.

3. What do you think people walk away with after viewing your art?

If you feel something through my art work, that feeling does not come from an external source. That feeling has been inside the viewer and my art brought it out of them. Communicating with Art is fundamentally communicating with yourself. I am always happy to hear how people felt after viewing my art work. Without feedback, I would not know what people think of my work.

4. How does your typical day unfold?

I go to school during the day and work at a bakery at night. I draw whenever I find time.

5. What was the most significant event in your artistic life?

It was a 2 person show with my friend in Okisana in 2006. We showed at very small event and through our website. It was my first show and I was not sure which style of art I would pursue at that time. I ended up showing photography, silk screen and many other styles of art. I also did a live painting with red ball point pen on a big canvas first time at this show. I realized this is what I wanted to do with my art. When I returned to Osaka after this event, I changed my major to fine art.

I also think a turning point in my career was participating in Art Stream 2006 in Osaka. Through this event I met people from Digmeout. This afforded me the opportunity to participate in a Digmeout show at Compound Gallery in 2007. That really changed my art experience.

6. What is your favorite medium and why?

I love the red ball point pen!!!

7. What artist do you admire most?

I do not know much about other artists. When I saw Shinson Matsumoto's art work titled "3 Geisha holding hands" at the Kyoto Museum of Modern Art,I felt this pulse going through my entire body. I have never ever felt this feeling ever before and ever then. It was a totally mind blowing experience to me.

8. What is your dream commission?

I just started my career as an artist. I would like to try any projects that I can. The only problem with completing my art is having enough time. I cannot try too many things at once because of this reason. I want to put my best effort into anything I try.

9. What are you listening to right now?

I like the Japanese band Cocco. They are from Okinawa also. I also like The Back Horn, Blonde Red Head, Bjork and Ivy. I also play piano sometimes and listen to classical music from Claude Debussy and Erik Satie.

10. What are your future goals in the art world?

I do not think there is a finish line in the art world. My wish is too have as many people as possible see my art work. I hope people will still see and appreciate my work after I die. I also have a small dream of someday having a studio/retail store where I can sell my art work along with other small goods and maybe serve some good coffee.

11. Okinawa is a rural island. How did growing up on Okinawa influence your art?

My parents used to take me to all the cool places on Okinawa. I went to various beautiful beaches, national parks, mountains and many little islands that surround Okinawa. I used to catch fish, lobster and many other creatures that are rare to other parts of Japan. I saw poisonous snakes various times when I was in the mountains. I also learned all the flowers names from parents. I enjoy feeling and seeing nature and learning from it. This is what I learned growing up on Okinawa. It was the best gift my parents ever gave or taught me.

12. Many of your art works use a red ink pen. What is the significance of this choice in writing utensil?

The reason I started using a red ball point pen was simply because it was there when I needed to draw. I just needed to quickly draw the image that came into my mind at the time. I think my use of the red ball point pen was meant to be. I always liked the color red and I feel something special about the color red in my life. I unconsciously chose the right color and did not notice that it was right until I started creating art works with it. People always ask why I use the ball point pen. I like the ball point pen because I can draw anytime and anywhere. You do not have to prepare anything with this media.

View available artwork from Neri

Neri's website