Idea Behind the Artwork
by Fujiko Isomura

From a survey of Madison Art Center, Education Department, The Wisconsin Triennial, 1999.

1. Who and what have influenced
      your art?

        

          

            
Several years
              of living in the U.S. certainly has influenced. Some of these
              influences include Traditional Japanese Art, popular art, various
              cultures, and the American painter Lilly Martin Spencer.
          
        
      
2. When did you decided to
      become an artist? Why?

        

          

            
In Japan when
              I was in kindergarten I noticed that I had an ability to cover
              mistakes in drawings and make them nicer, I thought that I was
              a genius. When I realized that I was not good at any other subjects,
              except art in grade school, I decided to become an artist.
          
        
      
3. Tell us about the content
      of your work. Does it contain metaphors for particular issues
      or ideas, for example? If so, what are they?

        

          

            
(See Artist
              Statement for reference.) I would prefer the viewers to think
              or feel about my artwork without my explanation first. Everybody
              must feel something out of the clash of popular icons I use and
              use of gold leafing on top of computer prints. If a viewer knows
              Japanese art history, she/he would be able to connect to some
              old Japanese paintings to realize why these popular icons are
              in the same space. The more you know about art history, Japanese
              culture, popular images from America and Japan, more you realize
              the point I make. However, if you have no information what so
              ever but still feel something funny about my art piece, you get
              the point also. Because after all, art is both the experience
              of the artist and of the viewer.
          
        
      
4. Tell us about the process
      of making your work.

        

          

            
Since the subject
              is based on my own experience, new ideas and images are subconsciously
              evoking and stored in the back of my mind from every day life.
              The process of making my artwork starts by looking for images
              randomly from books, magazines, etc. When I see the right image
              the whole idea of a new piece simply strikes/flashes in my mind.
              After that I start looking for the materials consciously. Sometimes
              it needs more flavor, so I go to the library or talk to people
              for researching ideas. Once I gathered enough material and information
              I scan the images into a computer, collaging and manipulating
              the images in the computer until everything works together. I
              print out this computer generated image with an Encad Ink Jet
              Printer on water color paper, applying gold leaf on top of the
              printed image. Then use Gouache, ink, color pencils to touch
              up or bring out some details and refine the color.