Tomoko, is an artist and dancer and teaches salsa in Tokio

"Discussions"   NL#20 June 2000 11" by 14" acrylic and charcoal on paper             

Passion, Love and anger...

I didn't realize that I have so many things in me,and that I always wanted to express them, until I started dancing when I was 22. These things would be passion, anger, hatred, love and so many different aspects of my emotions. I strongly believe that dancing is a language. A language, without words. I use the language to express myself and sometimes I even talk to myself with it. With the language, I become so honest and free to myself...

"Discussions"

Becoming an artist...

I've never dreamed that I would become a painter- an artist. Painting is like a journey to me. A journey through my mind. I go to the different places in my mind, my thoughts, my spirit. Places where I've never been to ,within me. Quite often, I discover something new about myself and sometimes it surprises me to know that I have such thoughts or ideas within me. Or, sometime it reminds me of something very important, that I've forgotten a long time ago.

"La Practica" NL#12-2000 march 11" by 14" colour charcoal, black acrylic on paper
"La Practica"
"El Elephant" NL#11-2000 March 402 by 502 Acrylic and charcoal on paper

Painting...well...

The reason I like painting is basically the same reason as why I have passion for dancing. These are the way I express myself without any hesitations. I could be completely free and honest to myself and I don't have to care about anything. It is very personal and shows something really deep inside about me. Dancing and painting are like tools, the tools to open my heart or to dig really deep inside of me.

"El Elephant"

Talking about a journey...
I have always liked travelling. I tell you this because I believe what I saw, or what I experienced, or what I felt, are the source from which I am moved to paint, or dance to express myself.

The first foreign country was New Zealand, and The United Kingdom, Scotland, Egypt( by myself) ,Italy France ,Greece, Spain, USA, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium...

In some countries, I traveled with a bunch of young people, about 160 of us,from 25 different countries. Basically, we stayed in a different host families with different roommates in the group. ( changing every 2 to 4 days) The purpose of this group ( named "Up With People") is to have better understanding about different cultures, and people who are from different countries, by living and doing one project together.

"Two to Tango" Nl#14 May 2000 11 by 14 inches Acrylic and charcoal on paper
Click for a bigger picture
"Two to Tango"
We did two hours Broadway style musical performance and lots of community survices, everywhere we went. Click for bigger picture
"Hula Dance" NL#13-2000 April colour charcoal and black acrylic on paper
I believe only one language, that everybody can speak(or understand) would be "music" and "dancing". It doesn't matter if you're good at it or not. Anyway, what I wanted to say was ,I was able to experience so much in the Up With People. Some are experiences that you can't buy with money. Of course ,everything has affected me, like living in UK for two years, before I joined to the Up With People. That was my first experience of living in a different country.(I was 22) I must say that to live and to travel are two different things.
Click for a bigger picture CLICK here for more artwork

I used to work at a travel agency in Japan.
If I think about it, I always sell dreams to people. Or I have to admit that I ,myself am one of the dreamers.

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