“To Live”
Thank you for taking the time to look at my artwork.
The theme of this piece is “To Live.”
At the center, you will see the kanji character 「生」, which means life or living.
Around it, I placed several other kanji:
Love (愛)
Dream (夢)
Thought / Care (想)
Kindness (優)
Harmony (和)
Heart (心)
Wind (風)
Flow (流)
These are the words I chose to express what “living” means to me.
But this artwork is not meant to give only one answer.
I hope each person who sees it will feel something different,
and maybe think about what “living” means in their own life.
We Live on Love
We are all living on love.
Even if we don’t always notice it,
we are supported by many small acts of care and kindness.
I created this piece during a very difficult time in my life.
Both mentally and physically, I felt I had reached the bottom.
In that darkness, I began to see something clearly—
I was not alone.
I realized how much love had been surrounding me all along.
That is why “Love” is an important part of this work.
Dreams Give Life Direction
Dreams do not have to be big.
They can be small wishes, quiet hopes,
or simply the feeling of “I want to keep going.”
Dreams give life movement.
They help us breathe toward the future.
Even a small light can guide us through a dark night.
To Care and To Be Kind
To live is not only to exist.
It is to think of others.
To care.
To be kind.
Kindness is not weakness.
Sometimes it is the strongest thing we can choose.
When we think of someone with sincerity,
and when someone thinks of us,
a quiet connection is created.
Life grows inside those invisible connections.
Harmony and the Japanese Spirit
I was born in Japan.
In Japanese culture, there is a deep respect for harmony and inner balance.
The character 「和」 means harmony.
The character 「心」 means heart or spirit.
They remind me to live gently,
to value peace,
and to listen to what cannot be seen.
This artwork holds that quiet spirit.
The Age of Wind
Some people say we are now in the “age of wind.”
Wind has no shape.
It moves freely.
It cannot be held.
For a long time, I believed living meant resisting and enduring.
But when I was exhausted,
I learned something different.
Sometimes, to live means to flow.
The character 「流」 represents this idea—
to move naturally,
to let go when needed,
to trust the direction of life.
Flowing is not giving up.
It is another form of strength.
Why I Chose Positive Words
Life includes pain, sadness, and struggle.
I know this very well.
But in this piece, I did not choose dark characters.
Not because darkness does not exist,
but because I discovered light inside it.
When I was at my lowest point,
I found love, kindness, and gratitude.
This artwork is a reflection of that discovery.
It is my way of choosing to see the bright side of life.
And You?
If you were to create your own “To Live,”
what words would you choose?
Courage?
Hope?
Gratitude?
Freedom?
There is no right answer.
I hope this piece gently connects with your own story.
And I hope it invites you to reflect on your life,
even for a quiet moment.
Thank you for sharing this space with me.
