#artiswork

[sai-hemlighet]

22 April 2025 - SAI short short blog

Hello. I'm SAI.

I'm writing this blog with the idea that it's best to update it once a week or once a month. Annual schedule:

↓

Spring/Summer : New work coming soon Autumn : I'm going to have a live performance with a New Zealand artist.

_

It's been about a month since I returned to Japan, and there are a lot of things that I feel are reverse culture shock (I still haven't gotten used to it), so I'm writing them down in case it might be of some spiritual nourishment to people who have also lived abroad and returned to Japan and feel like, "Ah, I understand that."

First of all, please keep sending me your reactions and comments. Right now, I'm mainly posting in English because I get the most reactions from fans in Northern Europe, but depending on the reactions, I'd like to narrow down the articles and content to Japanese as well.

_

①Reverse Shock 1 - Judged by appearance

After returning to Japan, there were many times when I had to go back to my natural self , not Artist - "SAI" - It means,I have to work in Japan.and I prepared various things for those, but all of my planned work were canceled because "Your hair is Pink".

Honestly, it was quite a culture shock… If I did this overseas, I might be called a racist! (Racial discrimination!)…?

Moreover, I don't think there is anyone who can explain "why having light hair is bad?" Even as an adult, I wonder why.

I felt that it was scary to stop thinking because They opinion is "rules are rules".

②Reverse shock 2 - hearing vulgar conversations in public

This happened on public transport.

It may have happened overseas as well (especially in Germany, since I didn't understand German), but hearing young boys talk like that is quite painful.

Breaking this down, ① Disgust at insensitive conversations in public ② A reaction to my history of being "the one being looked at" as a woman ③ The shock of the cultural gap with other countries (especially New Zealand and the West) etc.

Well, to put it directly, it's unpleasant to hear male students talking about adult videos on the train, or young people talking about oral sex while waiting on the bus.

Furthermore, after returning to Japan, I went to an izakaya alone and some young male students were joking around saying "I want to be a woman because woman is weak and stupid" (but there was also a female student among them) and saying things like "creampie is the best".

I like drinking, so I go to izakayas（Japanese restaurant/bar) and the like, but to be honest, I can't help but feel like they don't think about what other people might think if they hear such conversations.

③Reverse Shock 3 - Eyes on Married Female Artists

This is a very sensitive topic, and I'm not sure how to write about it, but

First of all, the premise… I started crowdfunding when it was decided that I would be staying in New Zealand and performing at SXSW. I thought it would affect the image of all artists performing at SXSW, so I could only give a vague explanation when I was crowdfunding, but unless the label provides the money, the artist is responsible for all festival expenses such as travel, accommodation, food, and transportation. There is also no performance fee. This hasn't changed in 10 years, and it's the same system for the newcomers category at Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. (This is not taboo in itself, and it's clearly stated on the application form, so I think people who know about it already know about it.) & I participated knowing about it, so it's not a criticism of that - well, I have a lot of thoughts about it… - but

That's how I started crowdfunding, but when I did, I was really shocked when someone asked me, "Why don't you get your husband to give you the money?"… Or rather, I wondered if that's how it's generally seen (my husband pays for SAI's activities)?

I wrote about this on my Instagram stories, but in our household, we have a rule that we pay for our own projects. So, I'm responsible for the financial management of my music projects - that means I pay for everything myself when the project doesn't make enough money - and I basically leave the management of my husband's projects up to him.

To be honest, I didn't get married because I wanted to marry a rich man, and I didn't get married because I wanted to fade away from my music career. In Japan, there's this unspoken pressure that says, "This is what a woman should do when she gets married," or, "Aren't you being treated this way?" (And I don't think I have any obligation to be so open about money - about my husband) and I really hate it.

However, I think people in the industry would find it difficult to ask me about it (talking about money is the most important thing when an artist is active, but it is sometimes considered taboo) But I really hate being judged based on a self-serving image, and if that is the reason why "SAI" is not properly evaluated, I would be even more upset, so I wrote this.

I still have a lot of magma-like anger. I plan to write about it next year.

④Reverse Shock 4 - Questions about the working environment --Or maybe it's something to do with animal welfare.

After I came back to Japan, there were a lot of things that happened other than what I wrote in my last article, but I wanted to be healed… so I went to a cat cafe.

After paying the bill and about to leave, I was scouted and asked, "Would you like to work here?"

Looking back on it now, it was strange at that point, but I thought, "Is Japan really like this…? (Was it this friendly?)" a month after returning to Japan, and I thought it must be hard to work at a cat cafe because they don't have enough staff, so I gave them my contact information.

Then, they skipped all the questions about the contract and other things and contacted me and asked, "Can you come in tomorrow?"…

….What…!?!?!?

At this point, I completely lost faith in people, and now I've closed my heart…wry smile

If I told my friends about this, it might just end up being a funny story, but when I read reviews of the cat cafe, I saw many comments that made me feel sorry for the animals (and if you ask whether cat cafes themselves are a good environment for cats in the first place…), so it definitely made me feel bad, so I faded out.

//

Another thing that happened after I returned to Japan

① When I performed at the SXSW (South by Southwest) festival, there was a Japanese videographer who had promised to film my performance several months ago. He contacted me the day before my performance to say that he was not on his way to America.

② After returning to Japan, I had promised to write a song with a Japanese artist several months ago, but he also canceled…or rather, I was unable to contact him on the day.

The reason I didn't name him or post on X (But I posted about the videographer -- contacted me the day before my performance to say that he was not on his way, and I had to find someone to film me myself, so I posted the details and my feelings) is because I didn't want to get into a fight if it went viral and people I don't know say all sorts of things to me.

-- During that time, Haru Nemuri was angry, and I thought, ”Oh! Me too!” but I knew that if I let my anger consume too much energy, I would be exhausted, so anyway, now is not the time for that.

-- Well, that's what happened, so I decided to post my feelings and current situation on Tumblr for a while.

//

After returning to Japan, I watched a movie called "Because Hates Korea." It's about a Korean woman who leaves her home country of Korea to go to New Zealand. To be honest, it felt like it was about me.

To be continued.

[abwwia]

Buy ART from LIVING #womenartists

The artwork of #JoanMitchell has long been one of the standouts within the American abstract expressionist movement. Active throughout the 20th century, Joan stands as one of the few female artists to break out and gain praise and acclaim. Her work has continued to attract retrospective exhibits at museums and fetch high prices on the auction floor.

2. Joan Mitchell (1925-1992)⏐Untitled, Oil on canvas

Painted circa 1960

95 x 90.6 cm

Provenance:

Acquired directly from the artist by the art dealer Jacques Dubourg

Estimate: €3,200,000 - 5,000,000 (US$3.58 - 5.59 million)

https://en.thevalue.com/articles/christies-auction-house-pars-avant-garde-contemporary-modern-sale-2024-joan-mitchell

#artiswork #artbywomen #PalianShow #femalepainter

[artekunstartgr]

A big shout out to all you artists making art, artists thinking about making (you’re still an artist), arts organisers, studio managers, gallerists, admins, interns, curators, invigilators, cleaners, art handlers, gallery technicians, did I miss anyone?

#ARTISWORK

[livkalon]

LivKalon Etsy store has officially launched. Information in regards to measurements and medium , as-well as in-detailed content of each piece are available on my Etsy shop.Enjoy. Link in bio.

[ofishel]

Here’s something new for @todayshow for a piece titled “What it's like to be Black in a white family that doesn't always get it.” It’s a story about a young Black man raised in a white family who he’s trying to get on board with ‘Black Lives Matter’ and how he feels as he deals with the micro aggressions from his family on social media. • Swipe through to see a selection of sketches. Many thanks to @heyjennychang for the assignment. • #illustration #editorialillustration #blacklivesmatter #drawingwhileblack #artiswork #portfolioday #conceptualillustration #blackillustration #design #artdirection (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CG-nI7yh8GH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[xxxxsrtaluna]

Killer >:3❤

Dibujo hecho por : Señorita Luna (yo)

[thrussellart-blog]

Arundel Museum exhibition

More photos of the Clifton Road Gallery art exhibition at Arundel Museum.

[feline-strange]

Video out today! 19:00 CEST - join us in the chat, and learn more about how this mental song came to happen. Link to presave both EP and video in bio! Party SATURDAY at #STEAMBALL - Link in bio, too 😁 #postpunk #deutsch #darkcabaret #howcanartnotbepolitical #mentalhealth #doktorDoktor #Huhnigunde #rubberChicken #madness #Berlin #DarkCabaret #DasNeueNormal #KunstFordertOpfer #ArtIsWork #artislife #artiscrazy #felineandstrange #beinganartist #ArtDemandsSacrifice (hier: Berlin, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTUENeIoZK_/?utm_medium=tumblr

[chriscrazyhouse]

If you don’t look like this at some point during your art career, you ain’t doing it right. #artiswork #artist #artcareer https://www.instagram.com/p/CPWorLnjh9g/?utm_medium=tumblr

[abwwia]

Leonor Fini

Watched last night: https://youtu.be/2E8iRbVqF3g

Artist Leonor Fini in her own words about cats, her own art and life! Documentary is in French, with English subtitles. Great music.

Leonor Fini (1907–1996) was a surrealist painter, designer, illustrator, and author, known for her depictions of powerful women.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina,

to Malvina Braun Dubich (born in Trieste, with German, Slavic and Venetian ancestry)

and Herminio Fini (with ancestry from Benevento, Italy).

Herminio was a handsome and very wealthy man, but also tyrannical, with extreme religious views. He made his young wife very unhappy and, within eighteen month's of Leonor's birth, she fled back to Trieste with the child.

Leonor was raised there and she would be expelled from various schools for being rebellious.

As a Catholic, Herminio refused to give Malvina a divorce, which was only granted to her in 1919 through an Italian court. Custody battles often involved Fini and her mother in sudden flights and disguises.

In her early teens, an eye disease forced her to wear bandages on both eyes. After recovering, she decided to become an artist.

She moved to Milan at the age of 17, and then to Paris, in either 1931 or 1932. Via Wikipedia

#ArtbyWomen#WomeninArts#womensart#femaleartist#artistnotmuse#supportartist#artiswork#performance#art#Paris#surrealism#femalesurralist#artdocumentary#inherownwords#artherstory

[niry-portraitist]

here’s my first attempt at drawing a statue

[michaelwarming]

Full video: https://youtu.be/Rn8112VuPOo

I have so much more content to come on my YouTube! I hope you find it worth to subscribe 🙏🏼

[livkalon]

Commissioned Piece : Client asked for a Green Bowl of Fruit and I did my magic. My commissions are open via ask or my website link in bio. 50 % due in order to hold your spot.

Medium: thick body acrylic, gouache,oil

Demensions: 12x12

[tanniesmith]

This was so well stated by my friend @kristinwauson Well worth a read, and a reminder that art is more work than talent. Want to get better? Get to work! 🤗 #inspiration #artiswork #artiswonderful https://www.instagram.com/p/B91xvUADqqw/?igshid=joj8qjc2ryil

[thrussellart-blog]

Refreshing exhibitions

Always important to refresh your current exhibitions if you get a chance. Prevents your display feeling stagnant to potential buyers who have come along more than once. Sometimes a balancing act because you don’t want to take a painting off the wall that has attracted someone to come and visit again; but if your show has been up for sometime, I think it’s worth showing that you are a progressive…