Art mediating mutual support between peopleLilika has always loved art and music and has sung in choirs since she was little. Her involvement in music and visits to art museums calmed her as an elementary school student when her father was diagnosed with work stress related depression. The same dynamic helped her when her parents filed for divorce when she was a ju-nior high school student.Stronger feelings brought about by the pandemicWhen Lilika entered university in 2020, daily life had already been transformed by the pandemic; all of her classes were online. Many activities were restricted, and many pitied the so-called “pandemic generation.” Reflecting on those days, however, her tone was reassuring.21in calligraphy, a company motto artistically rendered and dis-played in the CEO’s office, original songs or performances cre-ated for a wedding, a painting or drawing of a cherished pet that has passed away, and many other types of original artwork. All give form to things people hold dear.“It could be that the disharmony within me was eased by being in contact with purity and beauty. I think that is essentially what people look for in art.”While she was surrounded by many friends who wanted to pursue careers in music, she had something else in mind; she wanted to get involved in the art scene from a different perspective. She de-cided to enroll in the Department of Journalism in order to learn about advertising and creative production. She took a practical course in documentary production. Mizuguchi explained that her ability to develop her imagination and evoke feelings and emo-tions in others came through conducting interviews. Such skills have been invaluable in running her business, ConnecTA, which requires a clear understanding of a client’s background and wishes in order to match them with the most appropriate artist. Her enduring friendships with artists taught her just how difficult it is for someone to make a living through art.“When an artist wants to express something through their work, an incredible amount of time is needed to carefully observe the world and form a solid concept. The artist then has to think about monetizing works and developing sales. This compounds the dif-ficulty,” Lilika said.The idea that “art is created by people who work hard for people who work hard” was born out of her connection to art and with many people aspiring to become artists. Works brought to life by artists constantly struggling to bring their talents to a new level provide support to people who may be on edge but carry on day by day to survive. Artists themselves are supported, in addi-tion to fees they may receive, by the words of people moved or encouraged by their work.“Even though artists and clients operate in different spheres, they are equally passionate about what they do, day in and day out. My business aims to create synergies between them.”“I feel that I and my peers, having had more time to face ourselves, in the figu-rative sense, gained a certain strength. Everything was at a standstill. When things finally opened up, a kind of momentum was present.”Lilika is currently on leave from the university to focus on her business, but she says that the relationships she made at Sophia are of special importance.“Sophia is a unique place with people from di-verse backgrounds and perspectives who articulate their goals and desires clearly.”In the future, Lilika says she wants a part of the ConnecTA plat-form to use technologies such as AI in order to more smoothly match clients and artists while lowering fees and allowing more people to have art as a powerful part of their daily lives. She is particularly concerned about the need for public policy changes. “In Japan, preferential tax treatment for the purchase and inheri-tance of artworks is insufficient. Art has the power to stimulate social activity, including in politics and the economy. It is precisely because art plays a vital role as a driver of ideas in all fields that art is important for Japan’s national strength, and that we need to have this conversation.”As for her aspirations, the young entrepreneur’s eyes brightened when she said, “My goal is to become the youngest woman to take a company public; it would be a kind of reimbursement to my mother for raising me, and a bonus for all of my friends and colleagues cooperating in this business with me.”
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