One more time, we talk with the artists of meseon community. Today, we know more about Mayuko Fujino (personal website) and her artwork. Enjoy it!!

Mayuko Fujino: "One day I watched the introduction video of Japanese traditional stencil dyeing at a museum. In Japanese way, stencil plates are made out of paper. I was attracted by the process of cutting stencil plates, and I felt I can do that too, and I started it. Actually my mother made paper cutout once when I was a little child, so I was sort of knowing how to do it"


Q: Hi Mayuko, first of all we would like know more about you. Tell us who is Mayuko Fujino, tell us something about your life and your childhood in Japan.
A: I am paper cutout artist from Japan. Currently, I live in Asakusa district of Tokyo.

My mother likes David Hockney. When I was a child I loved to turn over pages of his book with her. My father was a member of a band when he was young and used to play the Beatles songs. Influenced by that I loved the animation movie "Yellow Submarine". Those two are the germs of my interest in art.

I used to be stuck for a long time with my life and art. I have spent most of my 20's to it. Now I just work and work - stop making sense temporary because perhaps the "real meaning" is outside of my thinking. This quotation below from Moondog explains it well.

"What is the answer to the whole scheme of things?
To know the answer ... the answer ... to know.
The answer stands as kingdoms fall.
There is no answer. There is none at all. None at all."

I am learning to take my hands off and let it flow - then visions began to spring spontaneously. I am trying to see things that somehow penetrate inside of me in my daily life. I look for the lines which gratify my senses, and the images taken from my dream journal. To reach the realm of my subconscious. That's the way I found how to take a small part of bulk flow of humankind, in my opinion universality exist deep down in everyone's mind.

Q: What is art for you?
A: Knowing what is your given gift and Living with it.

Q: How did you get started in the art world?
A: One day I watched the introduction video of Japanese traditional stencil dyeing at a museum. In Japanese way, stencil plates are made out of paper. I was attracted by the process of cutting stencil plates, and I felt I can do that too, and I started it. Actually my mother made paper cutout once when I was a little child, so I was sort of knowing how to do it.

Q: Have you always been interested in arts?
A: My interest is like a planet orbiting around art, sometimes it was so far like Neptune, now it is close like Venus, but it never got totally away from art.

Q: All your artworks exhibited in meseon are paper cutout, Do you practice other techniques as painting, sculpture or photography? Why?
A: Now I don't. I used to practice pen drawing once. Just for fun.

Q: What is a georama?
A: "georama" is the experimental shadow play duo. I make shadow puppets and backgrounds, and put ideas out. Tomoyuki Takahashi takes on the role of direction, sound effect and music. He is who told me about many things about art and music like Moondog, and is a member of the music group Kowun Ryusui. We both are the puppet players.

Q: What would you like communicate with your georama's artwork?
A: Today it seems we can do anything - with help of technology. Smooth and speedy animations are everywhere.
We think "Can't" could be fun. And sometimes it bring about peculiar and interesting effect. We are only 2 people and only use 1) a lantern-slide projector, 2) a small screen, 3) our four hands, 4) paper shadow puppets. Adittionaly, Tomoyuki plays music instruments too (BGM is live music). No dialogue, no words description (As long as there are no visually-impaired person. We once did improvise dialogues). It's like playing a game with strict rules... sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Our best time was at a charity Christmas party for children with disabilities, we received great applause from them. Our worst time was show at a swanky restaurant in Shibuya, the most crowded district of Tokyo, the audiences are uninterested.

Q: Your artworks shows peace, sensitivity and beauty, What concept are you showing to your viewers? What would you like say with your artworks?
A: My artworks are a kind of internal travelogue. All of us are very different and live in very diverse ways. But in the depth I believe we all have something in common. Like all the myths over the world do. My art (and perhaps all the artworks) are like a mirror, I cast a reflection of myself and viewers would see themselves there, and we share the same mirrored image. If you see peace, sensitivity and beauty in my art, I think you see YOUR piece and sensitivity and beauty there. It's how we connect through art, and that resonance is what I wish to happen with my artworks.

Q: What are the most important artist that are influence in your life and your works? why?
A: I have many favorite artists but I think the anonymous handicrafts makers of Northern peoples influenced me most. They gave me the cue.

When I was a teenager I took a trip with my family to Hokkaido (northernmost tip of Japan), that is the first time for me to learn the culture of indigenous people "Ainu". I was really impressed with their handicrafts - especially their stitchwork. The original patterns they create represent their worldview, myth and life attitude. So I understood how colors, shapes and lines could be eloquent even if they are so simple. And then the questions arose - what is MY worldview? Where are MY myths? I felt like I don't belong to anything.
When returning from the trip first I read the books to know what is "Japanese". But there are no clear definition, actually we are said to be mixture of peoples from the continent. Our traditions and myths are gradually fading away due to the westernization of Japanese society. Curious to say, traditions are our origins but we treat it as if it is kind of "exoticism" nowadays. It means that they are not my own culture anymore. So I had to start looking for something other than traditions, that forms the basis of my life and art. It was the beginning of everything.

Q: Why do you choose the paper cutout as a means of expression?
A: Because I love its dual nature and dichotomy - and love to fill the cracks as well.
Paper cutout has many constraints. If you work with limitation, you should always make the best use of inventiveness, and sometimes unexpected ideas occur. I love that moment.

Q: Do you carry out investigations before starting to develop a work?
A: Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

Q: Could you talk about the procedures that you use in your artworks? Preparation, development and finishing.
A: It's very simple.
1.Small very rough sketches. Taking pictures or prepare books for references.
2.Draft.
3.Cut. The important thing is to keep the edge of the cutter. I use X-acto knife kind of cutter manufactured in Japan.
4.Prepare magazine paper fragments. Paste and collage them.

Q: What do you feel when you are finished a artwork?
A: Contentment.

Q: Do you have some challenge or goal which you are pursuing in art?
A: Contribute to the diversity of human race and the development of mutual understanding all over the world.

Q: Do you have any other goals or challenge in your life?
A: Learn to love (because I hated so many things) and learn to let go (because I love so many things).

Q: Have you had bad artistic moments in which you decided to leave the art world?
A: I never thought of leaving art world, even when I felt numb. I know I got nothing to do except it in my life.

Q: Some quick questions:

Tell us an artist: 鬼海弘雄 Hiroh Kikai Japanese photographer. He knows life.
Tell us a city: Hong Kong. I went that fascinating city last year, I really want to visit again and have exhibitions there!
Tell us a dream: I wish to go abroad and show my work in person to people there, of course in Spain too

Q: For all your work, which is your favorite artwork or you love most?
A: I love most the piece I work on at the time.

Q: Could you tell us something about you are currently working?
A: Lately I am working on making 100 pieces in same size (790mm x 545mm). It began since last summer. I have done 31 at this time.


Thanks a lot for your time Mayuko. Has been a pleasure know more about you and your work.