Creating artwork
A guidepost for the path I should take

College of Performing and Visual Arts 4th Grade
Visual Arts Major

Moeka Mitsui

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A challenge I started during the summer break of my first year of university.

During my first summer vacation after entering university, I wanted to try something new, so I applied to the "Masuda Makoto Grand Prize," a painting competition held in my hometown of Tsuru City, Yamanashi Prefecture.

When submitting my work to the open call exhibition, I always kept in mind the principle of "painting what I want to paint, the way I want to paint it." As a result, despite it being my first time submitting, I was able to win the Superintendent's Encouragement Award, which motivated me to continue creating artwork. Furthermore, I believe that exhibiting in open call exhibitions provides an opportunity for many people to see my work, so I have continued to apply for the Masuda Makoto Grand Prize in subsequent years, continuing my challenge.

As a result, I was able to win some kind of award every year, and in my fourth year of university, in addition to drawing what I wanted to draw the way I wanted to draw it, I also focused on composition and depiction that took into account the perspective of those who would view the work, which led to me receiving the Superintendent of Education Award, the best award I had ever received.

Masuda Makoto Grand Prize, Superintendent of Education Award, Title: "Premonition" (Artwork on the right: Mitsui Moeka)

From seminars to individuals

In the Izumi Fujisaki seminar I belong to at university, I exhibit Japanese paintings by seminar students selected by the Sesshu Association Secretariat every year at the 'Sesshu International Art Association Exhibition' at the National Art Center, Tokyo. In my third year of university, my work was selected as one of the works to be exhibited at the Sesshu Exhibition as part of the Fujisaki Seminar, and it became one of my representative works within the Fujisaki Seminar.

As a fourth-year university student, I had decided to continue painting after graduation and eventually hold my own solo exhibition. It was around this time that Professor Fujisaki told me that a classmate from my seminar was going to apply to the Sesshu International Art Association Exhibition through their open call. Since I was thinking about what I could do as I approached graduation, I decided to try applying to the Sesshu Exhibition's open call as well.

The artwork I created for the competition was a depiction of Sugimoto-dera Temple in Kamakura, and its title is "Serene." As someone who usually lives amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, I felt the need for a calm and tranquil space, and I wanted to express that space as it was. So I stood there for a while, surrendering myself to the gentle flow of time, and developed the concept for the artwork. As a result, my work passed the selection process, and I was able to exhibit it as an individual in the open competition.

I will continue to use the art I cultivated at university, "painting," in my future life.

After graduating from university, I plan to work for a company in the spatial design industry. I'm looking forward to seeing how I can utilize what I've learned at university and how the spaces I design will be used.

Furthermore, I intend to continue "painting," an art form I cultivated during my four years at university, even after I start working. In particular, I would like to continue submitting entries to the Masuda Makoto Grand Prize and the Sesshu International Art Association Exhibition, both held in my hometown. I believe that submitting entries to the same exhibitions every year will serve as a goal and guideline for me in creating my artwork.

Eventually, I would like to create opportunities to regularly present the works I create, so that many people can see my work, which will inspire me and help me to continue creating art.

Moeka Mitsui

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Graduated from Visual Arts Major in College of Performing and Visual Arts 2023. Izumi Fujisaki While studying in a seminar, he applied for the Masuda Makoto Grand Prize for paintings held in Tsuru City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and the Sesshu International Art Association Exhibition at the National Art Center, Tokyo, and received numerous awards. After graduating from university, I plan to enter the spatial design industry.

Interview date:
This took place in January 2024.

Creating artworkA guidepost for the path I should take

Main content

A challenge I started during the summer break of my first year of university.

From seminars to individuals

I will continue to use the art I cultivated at university, "painting," in my future life.

Related content

Creating artwork
A guidepost for the path I should take