9 Questions with Isamu Shimada

Isamu Shimada is a professional painter from Japan. He graduated from Musashino Art University Junior College and studied under Professor Makoto Terao at Keio University. After receiving the LM Dutch Aviation Award, he was selected as a leading artist by WCA France (World Cube Association). He is a Habsburg Art Member and Honorary citizen of the city of Wien. He has received various awards, such as the Hungarian National Donau Television President's Award, the Shoryu Award at the World Art Competition in Beijing, and the Arts Award at the National Prado Museum of Spain, just to name a few.

Requested to hold a solo exhibition as Official Program of the Japanese Culture Business in Paris, he also exhibited his work, among others, at the Singapore Art Fair, GAA Shanghai International Art Fair, BABAG Museum of Modern Art, Vienna.

www12.plala.or.jp/isamu-shimada

ARTIST STATEMENT

For 45 years, I have worked as a professional oil painting abstract artist, and my art style has changed dramatically. There are more acrylic paintings than oil paintings in the world, and "oil paintings" that are required to be universal are declining. Industrial design is increasing from art that is useful in daily life.
Is this a change in art education or a social requirement?
Industrial design is an obstacle to the art of oil painting for humans to live. But, aren't those changes the responsibility of art schools, galleries, museums, and cue letters? Or does it mean that you have no knowledge?
Human ancestors wanted the emergence of art that was useful to humans.
I want educational institutions, art galleries, and cue letters to acquire the ability to see actual art theory. Historically, there are related theories such as the philosopher's four-dimensional theory, the neutrino theory, and the mechanism of human cells. Find the art for humans to live. For their own responsibility. Let's not be laughed at by the next generation.

Christ statue, Oil on canvas, 61x73 cm, 2020 © Isamu Shimada

INTERVIEW

First of all, why are you an artist, and when did you first decide to become one?

I became an artist because I liked it. I was in 4th grade of elementary school, and was always painting. When I was an adolescet, I did some work for my life, but he was always sketching. At 38, a stranger told me he wanted to buy a painting. From the next day, I became a professional artist.

What are your personal goals as an artist?

From the time I was sketching at different times, my goal is to capture time and space and create a new art style. When you abandon yourself and get lost, you're crazy about finding a theory. To me, investigating and executing are important, and also repeating things many times. My theory is the repetition of works. A man who chases himself and pursues theory!

And how would you define yourself as an artist?

My art is the only painting that evokes thinking and imagination. The definition is scholarship and art.

You have an interesting background and many different life experiences. Where do you get inspiration from for your work?

It starts with observing the existence from all angles. My inspiration comes from there.

What is your creative process like? And how did you evolve this way of working?

It's logical, but you need to learn enough about the basic idea of composition and build a theory without deviation. It would have been wise to build up from there. According to the theory that ikutarou-nisida explained to Japanese philosophers, the circle, where the tree is stripped every year, records the meteorological phenomenon. That is the pattern of each year, the expression of meteorological phenomena, "the scholar's art theory. This is the most important idea of curation. There is nothing better than that.

Christian Cathedral, Oil on canvas, 91x91 cm, 2021 © Isamu Shimada

What aspect of your work do you pay particular attention to?

How to choose the subject

Is there a piece you consider a "breakthrough" in your career?

All works are. Acrylic painting, which is called contemporary art, is disassembled, and industrial design is disassembled too. The work is universal, and you will never get bored. It is an important art for human beings to live.

Table clock, Oil on canvas, 73x73cm, 2022 © Isamu Shimada

What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future? Anything exciting you can tell us about?

I want to express death as I can imagine. Currently, the only way is to bend it, make it random, or dispose of it. It's a good idea to think about your death while you're fine. Doing so will extend your life and lead a fulfilling life.

And lastly, what is one piece of advice you would give to an emerging artist?

Learn system theory, not drawing with talent. Supporting the theory is important. There is no talent for everything, such as thinking and color. Learn system theory. Supporting the theory is important.

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