Artist Bio: Tomoni Shintaku
1982 Born in Hiroshima, Japan
2005 Bachelor of Fine Arts Kyushu Sangyo University, Fukuoka
2013 Shinjuku Culinary Institute, Tokyo
2016-2018 Activities in Singapore
2019-2020 Activities in Los Angeles
Currently Living in the Netherlands
1982 Born in Hiroshima, Japan
2005 Bachelor of Fine Arts Kyushu Sangyo University, Fukuoka
2013 Shinjuku Culinary Institute, Tokyo
2016-2018 Activities in Singapore
2019-2020 Activities in Los Angeles
Currently Living in the Netherlands
Published on March 19th, 2023. Artist responses collected in months previous.
What are you fascinated with right now?
It is not that I am crazy about it, but in order to live anyway and to stabilize my life, I am focusing on running a web-related company. Money is important. Every day, I am busy with a mountain of contacts from clients. But it is not fun at all. Art is, and always has been, the most valuable activity in this world for me. Of course, I also continue my production in a small and steady way.
What advice would you give your younger artist self?
Life is long. There is no point in being in a hurry. Even if no one recognizes you, you must continue your artistic activities anyway. In the past, I used to seek success and praise too much. Of course, praise from others can motivate you to create art. However, you can never be too aware of it, only that it is not everything. I may not be recognized until I die. Such an imagination is a frightening thing. But such things are not the essence of art.
What are your tools for creative resilience these days? Do you have any methods to stay positive when life becomes difficult and perhaps when you have limited time to create?
Reading. I have consistently read more than 100 books on philosophy, economics, history, etc. every year for more than 10 years. Knowledge is always a source of ideas in the future. Even knowledge that may not be useful at the time can suddenly become like a line connecting the dots years later. We must first continue to input knowledge tirelessly in preparation for the days to come. There is no such thing as a truly original idea in this world. Everything is imitation and rearrangement.
What is your dreamy vision for your creative career and art practice three years from now?
I have been wishing since I was young that I could sign a contract with a leading gallery, but this is something I can't do on my own hope. You never know when opportunities will come your way, so you must continue your art activities without giving up. In other words, don't quit. That's all. It's like training. However, I often feel like giving up, but if I take art away from myself, what is left? At least half of my life has already been consumed by art.
How are you being kind to yourself as you look towards realizing your vision for your art career?
Never overdo it. We do only what we can do, day after day, without hesitation. There is nothing that anyone tells you to do. Be spontaneous and control yourself. Also, I always drink alcohol at night. The noise of thoughts in my head is too loud all day long. Alcohol and other drugs help to tame my excessive headspace. If I can, I want to be transparent. Not the Japanese Zen, buddhistic thinking, but more pragmatic, transparent. Nothingness or death.
What are you fascinated with right now?
It is not that I am crazy about it, but in order to live anyway and to stabilize my life, I am focusing on running a web-related company. Money is important. Every day, I am busy with a mountain of contacts from clients. But it is not fun at all. Art is, and always has been, the most valuable activity in this world for me. Of course, I also continue my production in a small and steady way.
What advice would you give your younger artist self?
Life is long. There is no point in being in a hurry. Even if no one recognizes you, you must continue your artistic activities anyway. In the past, I used to seek success and praise too much. Of course, praise from others can motivate you to create art. However, you can never be too aware of it, only that it is not everything. I may not be recognized until I die. Such an imagination is a frightening thing. But such things are not the essence of art.
What are your tools for creative resilience these days? Do you have any methods to stay positive when life becomes difficult and perhaps when you have limited time to create?
Reading. I have consistently read more than 100 books on philosophy, economics, history, etc. every year for more than 10 years. Knowledge is always a source of ideas in the future. Even knowledge that may not be useful at the time can suddenly become like a line connecting the dots years later. We must first continue to input knowledge tirelessly in preparation for the days to come. There is no such thing as a truly original idea in this world. Everything is imitation and rearrangement.
What is your dreamy vision for your creative career and art practice three years from now?
I have been wishing since I was young that I could sign a contract with a leading gallery, but this is something I can't do on my own hope. You never know when opportunities will come your way, so you must continue your art activities without giving up. In other words, don't quit. That's all. It's like training. However, I often feel like giving up, but if I take art away from myself, what is left? At least half of my life has already been consumed by art.
How are you being kind to yourself as you look towards realizing your vision for your art career?
Never overdo it. We do only what we can do, day after day, without hesitation. There is nothing that anyone tells you to do. Be spontaneous and control yourself. Also, I always drink alcohol at night. The noise of thoughts in my head is too loud all day long. Alcohol and other drugs help to tame my excessive headspace. If I can, I want to be transparent. Not the Japanese Zen, buddhistic thinking, but more pragmatic, transparent. Nothingness or death.
Find Tomini Shintaku on Instagram