What is the pleasure of having art in your hands ?

Have you ever been to a museum or gallery and encountered a work of art that caught your eye or caught your attention for some reason? You feel as if you are drawn into the work even though you do not know exactly what attracts you: the composition, the colors, the overall atmosphere, or what it is that draws you in. Encountering such works of art is one of the real pleasures of interacting with art.

Besides, art is not only for viewing in museums.
You can enjoy your favorite works of art in your daily life by displaying them in your room. This is the true way to enjoy art.

The Joy of Decorating Art

Just a small painting can change the atmosphere of a room.

In other countries, it is common to see rooms with a variety of pictures decorating the walls. This is a sight not easily seen in Japan. However, this does not mean that Japanese people are not interested in art. On the contrary, the number of visitors to art museums is high even by global standards.

It seems that the image of art as something to be appreciated is strong, but it does not seem to lead to the behavior of buying and displaying art.

Art has a mysterious power to change the atmosphere of a place, even if it is a small piece.

Just one painting in a room with white walls can make the whole room feel warmer, or changing a painting can make it feel as if a cool breeze is blowing.

It is very enjoyable to select a work of art while thinking about what kind of air you want to surround the place where you want to hang the artwork.

We encourage you to pick up a piece of art. Even if you can't hang a famous work of art in a museum, there are many works of art that you can easily enjoy.

Painting is another window. Enjoy the scenery and seasons.

A painting is also called "another window. Inside the frame, a world other than the space you are in now opens up. What kind of world you get is up to you. When you want to take a break, you can dive into the world of the painting and refresh yourself.

One of the pleasures is that you can change the "world" according to the season. Seasons do not have to be landscapes. Even abstract paintings and objects should have tones and textures that remind you of the seasons.

Although Japanese people tend to think that the culture of "decorating the house with art" is not very familiar to them, there has actually been a custom of decorating rooms with paintings since ancient times. That is "kakejiku," or hanging scrolls. During the Edo period (1603-1867), the custom spread to change the hanging scrolls in the tokonoma (alcove) to those appropriate for the season in accordance with the five seasonal festivals, such as Momo-no Sekku (peach festival) and Tango-no Sekku (Boys' Festival).

Today, few houses have an alcove in the Japanese-style room, and hanging scrolls are rarely seen, but the Japanese tradition of enjoying pictures that match the season by changing them is something to be cherished.

The pleasure of watching and supporting the growth of artists

Find your favorite artist

It is easy to just look at art, but when it comes to purchasing it, we often hear that people think too much about whether it is too big for their room or not, or that if they are going to buy it, they should choose an artist with great potential, etc.

In such cases, let's forget about all the information and just review the artwork first.

Try to find a work that you think is "good," not based on other people's opinions. If you honestly think it is good, it is a sign that your sensibility and the artist's sensibility have somehow synchronized.
Please try to find your "favorite" artist among various artworks.

Learn about the background of the artists and their works.

Once you have found your favorite artist, researching the artist will give you a deeper appreciation of his or her work. You will be able to learn about the artist's other works, his/her personality, what kind of activities he/she is involved in, etc. You will also be able to learn about the artist's own social networking sites and announcements of solo exhibitions, etc. on his/her blog.

Artists are evolving day by day. If you can see the transition of the work that the artist has created, you can imagine how the work you hold in your hand came to be expressed, what the artist was trying to express, and with what thoughts he or she created it.

This will change the way you see the work from the first time you see it, and you will be able to see the different qualities of the work. It is also fun to think about where the artist is headed in the future.

Support the artists by purchasing their works and enjoy their growth.

Purchasing a work of art can mean many different things. Some people buy a work of art because they genuinely like it. Others may say, "For speculative purposes with the expectation of future asset value.

However, there is another important meaning that should not be forgotten. Purchasing a work of art means supporting the artist. Of course, you are also supporting the artist financially, but that is not all.
Artists put their thoughts and feelings into their works of art.

Exhibitions and social networking sites are also opportunities to see if your thoughts have been conveyed to someone else. Many artists are always on the lookout for how their work is being received and which pieces are resonating more with people.

The act of purchasing an artwork is a message to the artist saying, "This artwork has captured my heart. The artist takes your message and feeds it back to your future creative activities.

In other words, the purchase of a work of art encourages the artist's growth, not only financially.

Watching your favorite artist grow and develop through this kind of exchange is the most enjoyable part of purchasing artwork.

Your "favorite" artist, who was unknown at first, may eventually hold a solo show, be featured in a magazine, or have his or her work displayed in a museum.

The satisfaction of knowing that you have played a part in the artist's development will be irreplaceable.

Art in Your Life

I am sure you will find that you feel calmer and more energized when you look at art.

But it is a waste of time to just look at it. At first, it is fine to just genuinely "like" the artwork. By all means, hold the art in your hands and take in the artist's message.

Holding an artwork in your hand is an invisible message to the artist. The artist takes it in and connects it to a new creation. Holding an artwork in your hand is a dialogue with the artist.

Why don't you participate in the creative process with the artist by incorporating art into your life in a more casual way?

Writer Piyomaruko I work in the art industry and live surrounded by art every day as an art writer. My job gives me the opportunity to come into contact with a wide range of art, including Western and Japanese paintings, contemporary art, hanging scrolls, and ceramics, and every day I am constantly discovering new things. I hope to share the joy of art with you as much as possible.