"Actually, I don't think of myself as a painter... From time to time, the way of expression such as music and photography changes. The reason why you decided to pursue an artist career was that you wanted to preserve what you felt and believed in your life in the form of that moment. Like others, I was influenced by experiences such as being exposed to works of art from a young age, and I didn't particularly like to draw... The method itself changes from time to time, but all the works I create are created with the desire to 'prove my existence.'"
-When did you start to have such feelings?
"I once witnessed the death of a friend. When I overlapped with myself, I thought that my work would disappear without value. Until then, I had been making works as proof of my existence, but if it didn't reach anyone, it would be the same as not existing. Then, the desire to be known to the world was born. However, I don't intend to actively expose myself, and I'm still exploring how to convey the existence of "L". I hope this interview will be an opportunity for that as well."
―What is the meaning of the name "L"?
"Actually, it doesn't mean anything, it's just a conceptual name. I used to work under a different name, but I've been working as 'L' for about 20 years."
"I decide each time whether I want to express what I feel at that moment with sound or abstract painting. I receive requests to draw new paintings, but they are probably fundamentally different from other artists, and I want to leave something in shape when I feel something strongly, so I rarely get asked to draw it. It is a style that even decides on the expression technique based on the sensibility of the moment.
Paintings can honestly turn emotions into lines or colors, so it is easy to leave emotions and what you want to express in your work with high purity. I use acrylic paints and stencil techniques, and I add texture to express them, but I put them all together to create a single work, or with my thoughts. Unlike music, paintings remain as objects, so I hope they will remain in the hands of someone. In that sense, I think it's the best thing in terms of 'proof of one's existence', which is the most fundamental."
-Are there any works you have a strong attachment to?
"In terms of feelings, there are in all works, but I feel that the work titled 'L' was the most honest or without impurities. I draw Banksy's balloons, but Banksy himself is an artist who does not show up and only makes claims through his works, so it is in line with who I am now, including that. However, I also feel a dilemma, and although I think that only the work should be shown, there is also the reality that in order for people to see it, I have to spread the word to get people to see it. It was a work that was able to express that dilemma, so I feel that I was able to release it to the world as a work that has no impurities in my own feelings."
"Last year, a work was sold by Japan Bridge Art, and at that time, I was able to realize that even if I was gone, the work would remain with that person. While accumulating these things, as I mentioned earlier, I would like to spread the existence of "L" while having the dilemma of whether to show it or not. However, instead of trying to force it to spread, my stance is that it is okay to spread my words and existence little by little.
I don't have any specific goals, but it all comes down to expressing what I feel at each moment as an artist. I don't know how much longer I can live, and as long as I live, I want to leave a tangible proof of my life. I think I will continue to upload my works to Japan Bridge Art, so I would appreciate it if you could take a look at that as well. I think they are clearly different from other painters, but I wonder if the fact that they put their thoughts into each one will not change.
It's not a picture, it's a photo, but there is one distinctive work. I am wearing a fox mask and hood and holding a blue rose, but what is actually dripping from my hands is real blood. There are some parts that are a little full of such madness, but if there is anyone who resonates with that part of putting that moment into the work and expressing it as if there is no lie, I would be happy if you could pick it up. However, I also feel that it would be nice if people could feel it freely, not only because I want people to feel what I feel, but also because I leave a margin for interpretation in my works."