Sachie Yamane
Yamane Sachie
Changing values is a natural principle
Watercolor artist Sachie Yamane has faced her own expression amid parenting and daily changes. The changes and forgetting of values felt during that time. It was an essential piece to further expand his creative work. We spoke about the work born between chance and will, which forms the core of her expression—the chance and will that surrender to the chance where water and paint blend together, and about the process of painting 'things that cannot be put into words.'
The feeling of 'I really wanted to do painting after all'
"Please tell us about your background so far."
I entered an art university, and of course, my feelings of 'loving painting' and 'loving art' were the starting point. However, when I thought about my future, my parents said, "Maybe the Design Department is better," so I ultimately chose the Design Department. From the winter of my second year of high school, I started attending prep school and learned drawing and flat composition, and for me, I remember it was a lot of fun because it gave me the feeling of 'creating by drawing.' After graduating from university, I started working in design, but amid the changes in my life, I realized the long-held desire to do painting, and from there, my life focus gradually shifted toward art.
"Red Flowers and White Flowers"
Author: Sachie Yamane
"I think watercolor is an expression that creates unexpected developments like smudging. Is there a particular reason you chose watercolor?"
First of all, it was an easy-to-work art material. With oil painting, it dries slowly and has a scent. The biggest advantage was that watercolor was easy to start with. It all started when I started painting during breaks from parenting as a way to balance my feelings, so in that sense, watercolor suited me well. I'm also interested in oil painting and pastels, but after more than ten years of watercolor, I feel, "I'm glad I chose this after all."
Watercolor is something I can't fully control. With oil painting, the paint stops once you place it, but with watercolor, when you apply colors made from a palette, they spread out more and more depending on the state of the water or paper. It has a feeling close to "nature itself." For example, pansy petals don't have uniform colors; darker or lighter parts naturally appear. Various factors such as moisture and pigments combine to create accidental blemishes and patterns. It feels like reliving that process, which is very interesting. By adding your own feelings to it, a unique beauty is born. Also, I feel there is another kind of beauty beyond what is contrived.
Between Will and Chance
"Are both will and chance shaping the work?"
That's right. I think that's what makes it interesting. Rather than thinking, "Today, I'll prioritize my will" or "I'll leave it to chance," I have a general image like "Today, let's draw flowers" or "Let's paint blue." But as I draw, things often don't go exactly as planned.
Creative work often comes up with new ideas along the way, doesn't it? Even if you think, "I want to keep this stain because it's beautiful," sometimes it fades as you continue drawing. In that sense, I think the combination of consciousness and unconsciousness creates the artwork.
"There is debate about which comes first, technology or sensibility. What are your thoughts?"
It's often said, but I don't think it's something that can be separated. It's like two sides of the same coin. Even if you draw the same motif, it can look completely different depending on the person. The style is different, and you can tell "whose painting this is." I think that's the person's sensibility. I thought it was similar to cooking. Just as you bevel carrots or get creative with cutting methods to make them taste better, there are techniques to make your ideas concrete. I believe technology is meant to give form to sensibility.
During the 'time spent daydreaming'
"In a previous interview, he said, 'When I was little, I was zoning out and getting scolded.'"
That's right (laughs). But that wasn't something that was stuck inside me; it was a state of constant contemplation. It feels like the computer in my head is spinning around, processing information. From the outside, it might look like "nothing was done," but for me, it was an important time. When put into words, it's easy to understand, but I end up making a definitive statement. For example, something like, "This painting shows a strawberry eating and sour." The amount of information in words is actually very rich. It's easy to process so that you can shape it in your own mind with the maximum amount of information. And because it's easy to understand, it's easy to communicate, and I feel encouraged. I also think it's important not to rely too much on that, but to adjust the discomfort within yourself. There are always things that cannot be put into words. Expressing that through myself is important not only in creation but also in relationships with others.
"Have you experienced any changes in your mindset or goals while continuing your career as a painter?"
In the past, I wanted to be praised when I painted. I want people to say, "That's amazing." But if you do that, you'll end up worrying about the other person's reaction every time you draw, and you'll reach your limit. There was a time when I admired people active in the art world, but gradually I started to feel that it was different. That's when I realized I needed to find my own values, not just outside. I think there are solitary writers like Yayoi Kusama, but I am not. I feel that the sense of being expanded through interactions with others and how my expression changes naturally comes from interacting with others.
It's embarrassing, but at first, since I'm a painter, I wanted to be special, but I realized that was impossible. As I continued, I started to absorb the strengths of those around me and internalize them. Maybe I've gotten older, but I think values gradually change.
Early Works
Current Works
Leaving it up to the viewer
"Is there anything you expect from the viewer of the work?"
Not at all. I sometimes share my work on social media, but at first, I was just fixated on 'likes.' But I started to feel that it wasn't the essence. If people who want to see it can do it freely, that's enough. I think that's fine. Everyone has their own way of feeling, and I show them through my work. I think that's the most natural form.
"How do you plan to expand in the future?"
I'm not good at "fake communication" and want to value relationships with others. Within that, we connect through painting while feeling the 'individuality' of the person. Because you have an interest in people, themes naturally arise. It feels like strolling from one city to another, expanding and expanding.
A work that received a huge response on social media
"Overflowing with Flowers"
Author: Sachie Yamane
WORKS
Sachie Yamane
crimson velvet
double-flowered tulip
Rose Dance - Red
Gladiolus motif
Healing Colors
Blueness
flower fairy
bathed in light
Rose Dance - Red
master of the forest
Summer Memories
peony
Rose in the glass
Brilliance and Fruitfulness
reflection
Sachie Yamane's works seem to move between the real world and the virtual world. Within this is Mr. Yamane's gentle sensibility, which accepts change as something natural. From now on, I want to keep watching the changes in Mr. Yamane's works, as he continues to value relationships with others and sharpen himself even further.
The next issue will be "Special Feature on Artists Featured in Nihonbashi Art - Gaudí Sagrada Familia Special." Please look forward to it.
