Moments of Love With AYAKA FUKANO
![Moments of Love With AYAKA FUKANO](http://aninaarts.com/cdn/shop/articles/gm2-1702067273229_1000x1000.jpg?v=1702092022)
The following is a reflection by the artist Ayaka Fukano, the Toyko-based artist and illsutrator who creates moments of happiness and love that through her art. In Fukano's world, an orange could be red, and a tree could be blue, however the underlying positive message remains untouched throughout her works.
As a child, I never thought I was particularly good at drawing, and I was never completely immersed in it. I have always been very sensitive, and I think what I really wanted was to express my thoughts. I would freely let my pen dance across blank paper, the backs of advertisements, and anything I could find. However, once I started school, I felt confined to viewing art only as a class. My desperate need for approval from adults and teachers, coupled with the perception that my skills and ideas were somewhat childish, led me to believe I wasn't adept enough to express my world adequately.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0249/3687/4081/t/22/assets/gmmm-1702068186661.jpg?v=1702068187)
After a few years in this phase, I realized that I had completely forgotten how much I loved to draw. It turned into something I thought I wasn't very good at, and I spent years convincing myself that I lacked drawing skills.
At the age of 14, my father's job required our family to relocate to Germany for three years. A typical family of five, accustomed to life in their own country, suddenly found themselves in a foreign land with limited knowledge of the language and culture. This three-year experience became a significant turning point in my life.
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Miraculously, we were able to enroll in an international school, a feat we thought would be challenging. The school welcomed my siblings and me, who could only introduce ourselves in English, with tremendous support.
Adapting to a different culture proved challenging for me as a teenager, but fortunately, my naturally adventurous and fun-loving personality saved me from the culture shock.
In the face of a language barrier, the need to express oneself arises in various ways, emanating from within the body. It was during this time that I discovered a theater class,
Experiencing such a thing as a teenager in a different culture became a significant turning point in my life. which taught me the joy of expressing my passions.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0249/3687/4081/t/22/assets/isee-1702068225026.jpg?v=1702068226)
I am an artist because I want to express my thoughts and ideas and share them with the world. Currently, illustrations and words serve as my means of expression.
Tomorrow, it might be music, or I may revisit theater. Regardless of how the medium changes throughout our lives, as long as our thoughts are conveyed, anything is acceptable.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0249/3687/4081/t/22/assets/ayaka-1702068244998.jpg?v=1702068245)
This strong interest in expressing my thoughts developed further. Another thing that resonated with me was an advertisement in a foreign magazine. The colors, the angle of view, and the beauty expressed in a single image fascinated me.
From childhood to now, it has always been clear what kind of thoughts and feelings I wanted to express—love. I have consistently been sensitive to sad things like war, bullying, discrimination, believing that the world needs more respect and love.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0249/3687/4081/t/22/assets/sunday-1702068269529.jpg?v=1702068270)
My mission is to disseminate these thoughts to people worldwide and make the world overflow with love.
Currently, I continue to create works inspired by the moments of love I experience in my daily life. Sometimes, my thoughts accompany these creations as if they were scenes from a picture book.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0249/3687/4081/t/22/assets/ayaka-3-1702068301487.jpg?v=1702068302)