“Anime” style illustrator fuzichoco, one of the artists in this year’s Eshi-100, is featured in an exclusive new event organized by Wacom, a pen tablet company. The event is called “Connected Ink”, and is set to happen between November 17 and 18.
The “Eshi-100” exhibition celebrated its 10th anniversary in August this year, and through the sponsorship of The Sankei Shimbun, has continued to introduce works of "modern artists" active in the forefront of pop culture.
“Connected Ink” features a video showing a step-by-step process of how fuzichoco completes a picture on the pen tablet. This way, “It's easy to understand even the detailed drawings in the video, and I would be very happy if viewers took notice of that," said the artist.
The event is in its fifth year and involves about 30 companies and organizations in the field of IT, art, and stationery goods that come together with the aim to generate "a creative chaos."
“Connected Ink” is set to take place between November 17-18 in the Triangular Plaza (Sankaku-Hiroba) of the Shinjuku Sumitomo Building, located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Videos of the event will be distributed online.
Introduction of the concept by fuzichoco in “Connected Ink” reflects recent trends, as painters have increasingly taken up using pen tablets for drawing.
Adding the Dimension of Motion
Among the highlights this year is also a unique collaboration between fuzichoco and a dance performance group "IMPALA" which will interpret the illustrator’s work ,“Ka-sen”, which translates roughly as “glittering flowers.”
"Ka-sen" is an eye-catching work, with a female character holding a sword in the center. The artist used bold lines and curves, applying vivid colors for the flowers in the background as well as for the girl’s hair. When drawing it, fuzichoco combined the image of the Triangular Plaza - where the event is staged - with her favorite concept: "even in the darkness, you can see bright flowers."
The clothes worn by the character in the picture are inspired by kimono, the Japanese traditional costume, merged with some elements from Japanese street fashion. "I drew an image of a QR code around the waist area. I wanted to link tradition with the present," she said.
Reflecting back, the artist fuzichoko explained that the idea came from the impressiveness of the performers’ motion: “I tried to imagine the curve created by dance, while thinking of the curve created by drawing a line with a pen tablet.”
"What will the fusion of the dance and my illustrations be like?” pondered artist fuzichoco, adding “ I'm looking forward to seeing it."
Learning Through ‘Connected Ink’
Pen tablets are being used by more and more manga artists and illustrators, and have been gaining a high global market share. It’s no surprise, therefore, that "Connected Ink" is attracting attention among overseas professionals.
During "Connected Ink," each participating group is scheduling about 60 sessions, which fall under different themes, including: "I like drawing! How can I continue to support it?" and "Changes in the environment surrounding the manga / anime industry in the wake of the spread of the recent coronavirus infection”.
Advance registration is required to participate in “Connected Ink”. Please pre-register on this website, here if you plan to go.
(Click here to read the original article in Japanese)
Author: Eiji Homma
