in the Azabudai Hills Gallery exhibition, references the famous press photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. In Japan, the image is strongly associated with defeat in the war, whereas in the United States, it symbolizes the triumph of democracy.“I understand both perspectives. ‘Justice’ can mean completely dif-ferent things depending on the country, culture, or era. By deliber-ately introducing contradictions into my work, I invite viewers to question and reflect. Language relies on structure — subject and predicate — to convey meaning. But visual art is free from such constraints; it opens the door to multiple interpretations. I pres-ent my reality candidly in my art. If it prompts people to think and engage, that’s what fascinates me. When someone connects with the message I’ve embedded into my art, it gives me immense pride as an artist.”A World of DiversityMatsuyama continues to engage with society and our times through his art.“Tomorrow’s world will place greater value on cultural fluidity — where national borders and fixed identities matter less and less.”Along with the decline of the White population as the major-ity demographic in the West, white-supremacist rhetoric and ex-treme Christian ideologies are on the rise. Within this shifting landscape, Matsuyama — whose exhibitions in the United States and Europe are fully booked for the next three years — feels his work resonating more and more with Western audiences.“Art should speak not only from the self, but through the shared consciousness of its time. That’s true throughout history — and of the artworks that move me. I want to be an artist who embod-ies the era so clearly that even 100 years from now, people can look at my work and think,‘So that’s what it was like back then.’ Going forward, I’ll keep making art as both a Japanese and a global citizen, with messages that reflect the reality of the times we are living in.”Matsuyama also holds high hopes for his alma mater, Sophia University.“I studied in the Department of Management, but what remains with me to this day are courses such as ‘Studies in Christian Humanism’ and ‘Education for Preparing for Death.’ I remember how surprised I was at just how deep the learning experience at university was. I was also inspired by classmates launching their own businesses or traveling abroad while still undergrads. My time at Sophia was unforgettable. Whenever I return to Japan, I find myself running along Sophia Street, reminiscing about those formative days. I believe that the value of Sophia University will only grow as globalization continues to progress and the need to constantly proclaim respect for diversity diminishes.and motifs. In FIRST LAST, his works, which sample imagery from diverse cultures and eras, have drawn considerable atten-tion. He described this approach as a “multiplication” of his iden-tity as a minority.“I’ve spent my entire life navigating the space between cultures — as a minority in both Japan and the United States. I was raised as a Christian in Takayama, a rural city in the Hida region known for its Japanese Shinto and Buddhist traditions, so I couldn’t take part in the local festivals and religious ceremonies with the other children. Then, when I lived in the United States as a child in the 1980s, I became a racial minority. Returning to Japan, I was treated as an outsider again because I was a kikoku-shijo — a “returnee.” I feel these experiences are only now being discussed on a global stage. In response to social change and divisions in the United States, I aim to express diversity by weaving together the many layers of my identity as a minority and an immigrant in the U.S.”Artists Capture the Present Moment“I believe that the role of an artist is to serve as a mirror of their time. I always strive to keep a keen sense of how to capture and reflect the era we’re living in,” says Matsuyama. However, his work is neither a manifesto of minority status, nor overtly political.“I don’t think the sole purpose of art is social criticism. The strength of visual art is its non-verbal nature. By embedding a message in a work, an artist can prompt viewers to reflect while leaving meaning and interpretation up to them.”For example, my Catharsis Metanoia (2024) that was included 12 SOPHIA MAGAZINE Vol. 20Sophia People
元のページ ../index.html#12