Looking at art and being motivated; reading a novel and marveling in wonder. Experiences like these are what give birth to new stories and art in my life.

For instance, tasting a delectable course meal that a chef has prepared at the Modern at MoMA might inspire a lover to muster up the courage to propose to his girlfriend. You might go see a New Year’s Eve concert by the New York Philharmonic with a friend and end up passionately talking about dreams for the next year, all because of the brilliant performance. Walt Whitman’s beautiful poems might make you want to call your family. These seemingly small occurrences create waves of inspiration and sensation that generate ideas for my artwork and give me strength to go on. I think this can be said for everyone who lives in this world.

My métier is to turn sources of inspiration such as novels, prose, poems, art critiques, art exhibitions, fairy tales, folklore, and even simple conversations with others into visible form using words, paintings, sculptures, and installations.

Every one of us plays a role in changing the world, whether it be a lead or a supporting one. Living side by side with art, I always feel that we are all main characters in our life stories. At the same time, we are also supporting characters that help and give courage to others in their life stories. Within such interweaving tales in this world, we are constantly inspiring each other and creating art.

Our potential is the world’s possibilities. What I mean by that is our happiness, joy, sadness, and anger are what move us and urge us to create something new. The potential we have in such a moment becomes the possibilities of the world. I believe that assembling our potential magnifies the potential of humankind. That is why I continue to create because I wish for our potential to become the world’s promises.

Yumiko Furukawa