All Images ©Rie Takeda Your art is described as ‘Neo Japonism’ – could you share what this means to you, and how it reflects your work? Rie Takeda: In short, Neo Japonism is fusing the essence of traditional calligraphy, Japanese design and poetry with contemporary art forms.As well as the essence of traditional Japanese artisan, this style has two key essences which became the nucleus for my work. First, it consists of the flow of Japonisme-influenced art, especially by Paris and Vienna-based artists, since the 1870s. The second essence is the artworks of Taishō. The curiosity and boldness of artists experimenting with the new wave of the West and creating … Read More

Your art career has spanned over 30 years. Could you share how you first became interested in art? HIROKO IMADA: It is hard to say when I first became interested in art but I can say it must have been the influence of my mother, who loves art in general. I remember I used to go to art exhibitions, museums, classical concerts, theatre, etc. with my mother from when I was a small child, and I really enjoyed the experience. Also, I started to have piano and violin lessons at an early age and later on I was a member of a chorus from the ages of 8 to 12, … Read More

Left – Fishing Boat at IneMiddle – ShirakawagoRight – Woodland Shrine How long have you been painting, and when did you know an art career was for you? Matthew: I’ve been painting since I was a child. I didn’t paint much during my art studies and it was during my early twenties that I decided to concentrate fully on painting. Have you always worked with watercolours? M: I focused on watercolours for a long time, but over the past year, I’ve been painting a lot in oils. I find it refreshing to change medium as it presents so many more challenges. It’s important to try to keep a fresh approach … Read More

“Jiji and Kinako on Washi”, your photography exhibition with Sway Gallery London, explored the extraordinary connection between a 94-year-old man with Alzheimer’s and his loving cat. Celebrating relationships is a key theme of your work – how have you adapted during the pandemic, since many of us are unable to meet others in person? Akiko: It was hard and it still is hard to adapt to this new-normal. I am someone who needs human connection and the more the pandemic situation got serious and the more this new-normal became real, I began to crave for it. However, I found that it wasn’t just me. When we still didn’t know much … Read More