In Conversation with YUWMEI — “By revisiting the old, one gains knowledge of the new.”

INDACY: • Can you tell us about your early life in Japan and how your childhood experiences first sparked your interest in art?

YUWMEI: I was a rather frail child and was hospitalized at least once a year. My days in bed were often filled with reading, folding origami, or drawing. Because my father enjoyed painting as a hobby, our home was always stocked with drawing paper and brushes, so I could create whenever inspiration struck. Our shelves were lined with art books of the world’s great painters—Corot, Renoir, Utrillo—and I would leaf through them as though they were picture books. On our walls hung framed prints of Renoir, my father’s oil paintings, and traditional hanging scrolls. Growing up in such an environment, art was never something special—it was simply part of the everyday fabric of my life.

INDACY: • Were there any specific inspirations or mentors during your youth who guided your initial steps into the art world?

YUWMEI: As a self-taught artist, I had no formal mentors. From childhood, I was captivated by Renoir, especially his portrait of Irène Cahen d’Anvers, which remains my favorite painting to this day. I was also deeply moved by Munch’s Madonna, as well as the powerful beauty of Japanese ukiyo-e, which left me in awe. The works of contemporary Japanese painter Ichiro Tsuruta also inspired me. My lifelong devotion to bijinga—paintings of women—may well have been shaped by these formative encounters.

INDACY: • How did you decide to pursue art professionally, and what were the first steps in your creative journey?

YUWMEI: My greatest supporter was always my mother. She proudly displayed my drawings on our walls and shared them with every visitor to our home. She herself was a teacher of ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, and my own instructor in the discipline. We often created large-scale works together for exhibitions. For many years, I vaguely imagined pursuing a creative profession but never took concrete steps toward it. In 2022, my beloved mother passed away. At that moment, I resolved to abandon the idea of “someday” and to begin my true journey as an artist.

INDACY: • Your style has evolved over the years. Can you share what early experiments or artworks shaped your current artistic vision?

YUWMEI: I have taught myself various techniques, including acrylic, pastel, and watercolor painting. Along the way, I discovered mixed media. One turning point came when I began creating digital drawings with my finger on an art application, printing them on washi paper as giclée prints, and then finishing them with traditional Japanese painting techniques, using gold powder and mineral pigments. This fusion became a defining element of my practice. My representative work, The moon —Masukagami— (Perfectly Clear Mirror), exemplifies this approach.

INDACY: • Being an elite member of First Wish Art Gallery, how did this partnership influence your growth and exposure as an artist?

YUWMEI: As an artist still early in my career, I was given extraordinary opportunities through First Wish Art Gallery. Exhibiting my work in various countries and sharing it with diverse audiences has been a profound source of encouragement. The strong support of the gallery has made possible what I could not achieve alone, fueling my motivation to create even more compelling works. My role as an elite member has also led to invitations to domestic exhibitions, broadening the scope of my activities.

YUWMEI’s journey to Georgia was marked by cultural exchange and artistic inspiration.

INDACY: • You have participated in numerous world tour exhibitions. Which international experience stands out as particularly transformative, and why?

YUWMEI: My first encounter with the gallery’s international group exhibitions was the World Tour Tokyo in November 2023. There, I connected with fellow Japanese artists and was inspired by the works of artists from abroad. This experience brought a significant shift within me and became the catalyst for my decision to join the World Tour.

INDACY: • You recently held a solo exhibition in Georgia. Can you share your experience with that exhibition and how traveling for your art has influenced your creative perspective?

YUWMEI: It was a profound honor to hold my very first solo exhibition at the historic and culturally esteemed Telavi History Museum in Georgia. I am deeply grateful to Mr. Irshad Husain, the owner of First Wish Art Gallery, and Ms. Mariami Simashvili, the co-owner, for making this possible.

Traveling alone to Georgia for the exhibition was liberating—I devoted myself entirely to sharing and experiencing art. During the exhibition, I also had the opportunity to teach Japanese calligraphy to local art students as part of a museum masterclass. Their enthusiasm and joy in encountering a new cultural practice left a lasting impression on me. Through traveling for art and engaging in cultural exchange, I discovered new possibilities and gained greater confidence as an artist.

YUWMEI’s solo exhibition at Telavi History Museum, Georgia — September 22, 2024

INDACY: • How do you balance your Japanese cultural heritage with the global audience you now reach through your art?

YUWMEI: In Japan, we have the proverb onko chishin, which means “to learn from the past and gain new insights for the future.” I have a deep love for traditional Japanese culture and arts. I also cherish wearing kimono, which often appear in my bijinga. They are not depictions of historical figures, but rather expressions of the beauty I perceive in the present. Once, someone told me that the women I paint seem as though they should be sitting with a cup of coffee—a reflection of how tradition can harmonize with modern life. To me, tradition is not mere preservation but evolution— maintaining its essence while allowing it to grow. My works embody both the timelessness of tradition and the beauty of transformation.

INDACY: • What themes or emotions do you strive to convey through your work, and how have they evolved over time?

YUWMEI: When I was once hospitalized, a woman with severe rheumatism undergoing painful rehabilitation told me, “I look at the picture of the young girl on the wall during therapy. Seeing it gives me strength to keep going despite the pain.” That painting was one of mine. It was the first time I realized that my art could have a meaningful impact on someone‘s life. Since then, I have aspired for my work to bring healing, comfort, and reflection to those who see it—to give viewers a quiet moment to imagine, and to connect with themselves more deeply.

INDACY: • Looking ahead, what are your future artistic goals, and how do you envision your art developing in the coming years?

YUWMEI: My art is still in the process of evolution. I hope to continue learning from artists around the world, to refine a unique artistic language that is truly my own, and to share it with a wide and diverse audience. My aim is to establish a body of work that resonates universally while remaining rooted in authenticity.

YUWMEI led a creative workshop at Telavi History Museum, inspiring young art students.

Exploring Georgia, YUWMEI connected with its historic Trinity Church, rolling vineyards, and the creative spirit of the local communities.