Dialogue - Laughter -

Encounters and experiences on the street

Shoda first began drawing human faces when he was 19 years old and studying design at Kyoto University of the Arts.

One day, when he showed a senior colleague a drawing of Bob Marley's face on a CD jacket that he had made with crayons, he was told, "Why don't you try drawing someone close to you?" This prompted him to start drawing caricatures.

When he showed the picture to his senior, he was invited to "draw on the street," and that's how he began drawing caricatures on the street.

"When I was drawing on the streets, I met people I don't normally meet, and I became interested in the expressions they showed. At first, I was so focused on drawing that I didn't talk much to customers, and it was hard to build a relationship with them on a heart-to-heart level. One day, as an experiment, I brought a talkative friend with me and drew her talking to a customer. The customer seemed more relaxed than usual, but the friend and the customer became friendly, and I felt like I was the only one left out (laughs). Because I have this rare opportunity to connect with people, I want to listen to what they are saying and draw the best expression I can see in their faces. It's been an almost unconscious approach since I started drawing."

Lacking individuality compared to others?

From his experiences on the streets to the present, his life seems to have been smooth sailing.

Looking back, when he was attending art university, Shoda says he felt inferior to the unique people around him and had a complex about not having a sense of self.

"Ever since I was little, I've always had a personality that didn't like conflict, and I felt that everyone around me had stronger personalities and a stronger sense of self. In classes where we were presenting our work, there were times when I would agree with what A said, and when Person B gave a completely different opinion, I would agree and say, 'That's true too,' and it used to bother me, as if I didn't have my own opinion."

Because it is transparent, it can be reflected

Shoda felt that he needed to have more of himself, so he decided to go on a two-month journey to visit the 88 temples of Shikoku, a pilgrimage to find himself.

It was a journey that sometimes involved walking up to 50 kilometers in a single day.

Wanting to "leave in some tangible memory the encounters and connections he made on the pilgrimage," Shoda began drawing portraits and handing them out while on the pilgrimage.

"Completing it gave me a sense of confidence. I started to think that there's no need to forcefully draw boundaries and say 'this is me,' and that even if there's no such thing as a self, I should just do what I want to do.

"Once someone said to me, 'You're so transparent, Shoda-san.' At the time I thought they were pointing out that I have no individuality. But being transparent also means that when you sense the beauty of other people's expressions or nature, you are able to reflect them exactly as they are. It made me realise that it's not that I have no self, but rather that I have a stronger ability than most people to affirm the opinions of others. I realised that this is the nature I possess, and my role."

Portraits that bring out the beauty in people

The exhibition "Smile and Arisa Kawai Couple Exhibition "Tamakiharu"" will be held from Saturday, September 18th.

A portrait session will be held on days when the artist is present.

What he draws in his portraits is the beauty that Shoda sees in a person.

It depicts your natural charm, from everyday life to important anniversaries.

Why not capture this intangible moment in the form of a portrait?