Sophia Magazine vol.20

11/32

Sophia PeopleThe road he stepped into — the world of art — was indeed a bru-tal one. The path of an artist can be unforgiving.those who persevere in believing in themselves. Art isn’t a con-test of technical skills — it’s about offering a unique perspective shaped by lived experience. It’s a message made manifest in a work of art built on a foundation of life experience. In that sense, my struggles in that brutal world became my greatest strength.Proud to be a MinorityMatsuyama endured difficult times while steadily gaining inter-national recognition. He is known for his ‘sampling’ technique, in which he references and reinterprets a wide range of paintings personal vision, it became clear that art was my only path.25 arduous Years“In Japan, artists can support themselves through work outside of art while continuing creative practice. In America, it’s not differ-ent, but as a foreigner, authorized solely as an artist, I had to be an artist before I could make a living. It was a harsh reality: if my art didn’t sell, I couldn’t eat — and this wasn’t a metaphor; it was legally binding.”In this harsh reality, artists disappear from the scene day by day. Matsuyama himself sometimes struggled with his mental health.“If I don’t sell my art today, there’s no tomorrow. That’s the kind of pressure you face in New York, the so-called ‘art capital of the world.’ Still, I kept going only because of my belief in myself, my purpose, and the future. That gave me the commitment and de-termination to see things through.I often say, ‘There’s no such thing as talent.’ Chances come to Catharsis Metanoia (2024) H279.0 x W384.0cm11