From October 13-31, Shingo Katori is featured as a special artist at the “Museum of Together”, part Nippon Foundation’s DIVERSITY IN THE ARTS project.
The project’s aim is recognizing diverse individuality in society. The 22 participants include disabled and contemporary artists. Two of Shingo’s pieces will be on display.
Below are a collection of translations from both the Atarashii Chizu official site and extracts from the interview with Shingo on YouTube.
Message from Shingo
It doesn’t matter if you have a disability or not, people cannot live alone. I personally want someone to support me and I want to support those in need. There is no barrier to such feelings and I suppose art made me realize that. To me, art doesn’t exist without rules or goals. There is no right answer at the beginning or end, you can measure yourself and that is irreplaceable. I usually embrace those thoughts, but I’ve never been happier to be able to participate as an artist at a exhibit without borders like this. — Shingo Katori, Atarashii Chizu official site
Interview with Shingo
They are pieces from 5-6 years ago. I don’t really think “I’ll try painting this”, but for these two I wanted to paint them and did. First, I decided the titles. “Hurry up, we are going to be on time”. This has two trying to escape from somewhere, but they can’t and become skeletons. Others have come to save these two shells, saying “it’s okay, we’ll make it in time”. […]
I painted “Fire Bird” at work. I didn’t paint it at home. I hit a wall with what was happening at work, my head was full of thoughts, “there’s little time, I must draw a little!”. So I brought cardboard to work. I always have paints on me, so I painted and just like that it’s an explosion at once! It was like “Alright! Let’s get back to work!”
[…]
This is really an amazing project exhibit. I’m honored my art work is on display. I believe this is the first time at an exhibit. After all, I want more than just painting, I want people to see my paintings. I’m very happy everyone can see the works on exhibit here. I’ve also seen many different works from various artists. The feelings and environment behind the drawings are unique for each and every one. […]
Nippon Foundation DIVERSITY IN THE ARTS Project “Museum of Together”
Dates: October 13, 2017 ~ October 31, 2017. 11:00~20:00
Location: Spiral Garden (Tokyo Minato-ku Minami Aoyama 5-6-23)
Fee: Free (numbered entry tickets may be used)
Organizer: Nippon Foundation
Joint Sponsors: The Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Work: Nippon Foundation
Reaction
Um. Wow? I laughed in glee when I saw the news. Maybe it was partially an evil laugh. I’m so very, very happy that Shingo gets to not only continue on as a talent (idol was not used) but as an artist. Art is something he’s always loved doing and he’s getting to really embrace it now.
Why a partially evil laugh? While the two paintings Shingo chose were done years ago, he picked them for a reason and gave the descriptions he did for a reason. Two people trying to escape from Johnny’s somewhere and being unable able to? Turning into skeletons and shells of themselves? Then these three creatures come to save them, saying that it’s okay, they’ll make it in time.
Shingo is the king of hidden messages. So what does it mean when he isn’t being subtle at all? I’m guessing he doesn’t want anyone to not pick up on what he’s trying to say. It feels like direct call out against Johnny’s and the story that Shingo hates Kimura and SMAP and didn’t wanted it all to be over. Well, considering what we’ve gotten with Atarashii Chizu then… yeah, it wasn’t meant to be all over.
Oh, and the second painting? The fire bird? Hello phoenix rising from the ashes. We’ll get SMAP back. Even if we don’t, Shingo just made it very clear that he wants them back together once again.
Or he meant nothing by any of this and just wanted to be cute. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯