‘My art is improvised, it is free. I draw every day in my sketchbook, so there is no need for additional sketches. My character is like a template – sometimes it makes sense, but you need imagination. Such art is interactive; it exists between the observer and me. Sometimes art is about skill, sometimes I just draw and draw and draw, and when I make a mistake – something new is created. It’s like improvisation, like discovery,’ said multimedia Japanese artist Akinori Oishi, who is staying in Novi Sad throughout April as part of the ‘Schools of the Future’ programme unit. Akinori is sharing his knowledge with children and youth through art workshops at the Bogdan Šuput School of Design, Elementary School ‘Tvrđava’ and kindergarten ‘Zemlja čuda’.

As part of Akinori’s stay in Novi Sad, on Saturday, 16 April, a workshop ‘Let’s play with Aki’ was held. During the workshop, children and parents together with the artist created their own characters and with additional Akinori’s characters, created their creations on the topic ‘What makes you happy?’ and ‘Describe your dreams’. The workshop was held at the Private Elementary School ‘Tvrđava’, and the students of this school participated, as well as children from the kindergarten ‘Zemlja čuda’ accompanied by their parents.

Akinori Oishi showed a talent for drawing at the age of three, and growing up he found inspiration in European and American picture books and Japanese manga. He graduated in fine arts from the University of Kyoto, and developed his skills both in Japan and in France, where he lived for several years. He worked as a professor at the University of Arts in Tokyo, and today he is very active on the Japanese art scene.

This internationally recognized and award-winning Japanese artist, known for painting various surfaces with his tiny, smiling characters, recently visited the premises of the ‘Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture’ Foundation in Liberty Square, where he painted windows with his recognizable characters with a white marker. Akinori also painted the windows of the Private Primary School ‘Tvrđava’, the American Corner and the Tourist Organization of Novi Sad.

‘Schools of the Future’ are part of the Future of Europe programme arch, one of the eight programme arches that make up the programme concept of the European Capital of Culture 2022.

Photo: Marko Pudić