Overview
Aritoaru works from Hiroshima, moving between traditional Japanese materials and digital finishing to build images that read as both hand-made and considered. Trained in brush and pen before turning to Adobe software, they draw on manga and video games as much as on the classical Japanese arts, and describe their process as one long conversation between drawing paper and screen. Their work is guided by an instinct toward restraint, an interest in what a composition can say once everything unnecessary has been taken away.
Process & inspiration
Aritoaru moves in two worlds. In one, they carry a close attention to Japanese tradition, to tea ceremony, flower arrangement, haiku, Noh theatre, and ukiyo-e prints, and hold a particular affinity for what they call the aesthetic of subtraction, the beauty of minimalism and simplicity that runs through those forms. In the other, they are, by their own account, drawn to manga and video games, mediums built on clean line and economy of gesture. Their tools bridge both worlds: Japanese brushes for structure, a German fountain pen for fine line work, mechanical pencils, and finally Adobe software to complete the image on screen. Rather than resolving a piece into something polished and photorealistic, Aritoaru works to preserve what the physical materials leave behind, the fading of ink as a brush runs dry, the grain of the paper beneath it. "My goal was to bring out the unique characteristics of the physical tools," they say of this approach, treating the imperfections of hand and paper as part of the finished work rather than something to correct.
In conversation: Kenshō
What does Kenshō mean to you?
Kenshō refers to a momentary, profound realisation, a glimpse into the truth. While I don't consciously think about the word every day, I often seek truth and realisations by looking back at my childhood self. Even if something is considered the norm in society, I ask my inner child if it is something they truly do not want to do. I also try to take the stories that have been asleep in my childhood notebooks and bring them to life using the skills I possess today.
Could you tell us about a moment of sudden insight or clarity that emerged for you?
With the recent advancements in AI, our lives have become incredibly convenient. AI can now generate music, art, writing, and video, and as robotics advances, even intellectual labour, physical labour, and sport might eventually be replaced by machines. If this goes too far, I sometimes wonder if humans will become unnecessary, existing merely as consumers. But through this thought process, I had a sudden clarity: human hearts are truly moved by actions and expressions accompanied by physicality. I still use AI, but I am making a conscious effort to value physicality, using my hands and being very particular about physical materials.
How do you think this concept could help us in our everyday lives?
The answer varies from person to person, so there is no single right answer. But I believe that by reflecting deeply within our souls, each of us will eventually see our own unique guideposts in life.
