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Noriko Nakayama
JAPAN
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“ I liked drawing, but I loved imagining.”
Noriko has always been deeply imaginative since childhood. While she enjoyed drawing, her true passion lay in imagining different ways to play and create. This strong sense of creativity has remained a core part of her artistic journey, allowing her to explore new perspectives and express profound emotions through her work.
存在 | Existence | Mixed Media | 53 cm×53 cm
NA
Environmental destruction is progressing...
Flowers get attention, but grass is treated as a nuisance.
Withered things are the same.
I want to shine a spotlight on those withered things.
The leaves in my paintings—withered, fallen from trees, trampled, and lost somewhere—are brought into focus, saying, "I am here."
People are the same.
Their very existence matters.
Growing up in a family of four, Noriko experienced both love and loss. Her father passed away at the young age of 39, a tragedy that left a lasting impact on her. Throughout her life, animals such as cats and dogs provided companionship and comfort, becoming a significant presence in her world. These early experiences shaped her sensitivity toward life, nature, and the impermanence of existence.
存在II | Existence II | Mixed Media | 53 cm×53 cm
$2,300
21 X 21
I find beauty in things that have withered.
Everything has its own existence. How do those that have been oppressed express themselves and assert their presence?
Even if there is nothing else, as long as existence remains, that is enough.
There will always be something or someone who understands and supports you. Believing in that, I want to assert my existence.
Noriko is a self-taught artist whose artistic path was profoundly influenced by her first encounter with Van Gogh’s paintings. The overwhelming emotion she felt upon seeing his work moved her to tears and solidified her decision to pursue art. The time she spent in France was transformative. Noriko met diverse people, experienced new cultures, and absorbed as much as she could. That period continues to fuel her artistic drive, serving as a foundation for her creative expression.
“Van Gogh's paintings moved me to pursue art.”
Throughout her life, Noriko has struggled with the constraints imposed by a small community. She often questioned her existence, feeling trapped by societal expectations, unable to fully pursue her desires. This internal conflict led her to discover a commonality with many others who experience similar frustrations. Art became her means of releasing these emotions, with the hope that her work would resonate with those who feel the same way.
存在III | Existence III | Mixed Media | 60 cm×60 cm
$2,600
24 X 24
When a withered leaf is stepped on, it shatters into tiny pieces.
But before that, it lived its life fully. That's why I want to keep the memory of its existence as proof that it lived.
Even if it withers, even if it is trampled upon, it still exists.
People, too—no matter how painful or difficult life may be—if they exist, that alone is enough.
When a withered leaf is stepped on, it shatters into tiny pieces.
But before that, it lived its life fully. That's why I want to keep the memory of its existence as proof that it lived.
Even if it withers, even if it is trampled upon, it still exists.
People, too—no matter how painful or difficult life may be—if they exist, that alone is enough.
A withered plant is still alive.
It’s not that it has nowhere to go.
It was born with meaning, lives its lifespan, and withers,
but that is not the end.
It will be revived for the next life.
存在は自由 | Existence is freedom | Mixed Media | 41 cm×41 cm
$1,200
16 X 16
Her dedication and talent have been recognized internationally. Noriko was honored with the Luxembourg Art Prize 2023 International Prize Artistic Achievement Award Certificate. In 2024, she was a finalist in the TERAVARNA 8th Color International Juried Art Competition in the USA. These accolades reflect the depth of her work and its universal appeal.
“I don't want to draw pretty flowers or lively things. I want to draw and express weeds that are likely to be treated as a nuisance and things that have already withered.”
“Ever since I was a child, I've always wondered what my existence is. I can't do what I want, and I'm always at the mercy of those around me. I wondered if this is really what I want to do. I've also realized that there are a lot of people like that. I want to let out all the frustration inside me, and I draw with the hope that my feelings will reach people who are in the same situation.”
Noriko deeply contemplates themes of diversity and human struggle. She acknowledges the complexity of the world - marked by wars, conflicts, global warming, and social disparities. Even in developed nations, differences in wealth and opportunities create divisions. She questions whether traditional measures of success, such as education and career, truly bring happiness. Her work challenges viewers to reconsider their perspectives on fulfillment and self-worth.
存在は自由II | Being Free II | Mixed Media | 41 cm×41 cm
$1,200
16 X 16
To live is to be sustained, and to be sustained is to live. The same things keep repeating and circulating on Earth. As global warming progresses, that cycle will stop, and the gears will begin to go out of sync. When we go against nature, the consequences come back to us.
For Noriko, happiness is not dictated by material possessions, social status, or external validation. She believes that true contentment comes from within, independent of external circumstances. While the world is full of hardship, including bullying, discrimination, hunger, and war, she wants her art to remind people that they are not alone. Through her artwork, she hopes to offer solace and encourage self-acceptance.
Sometimes, existence wavers.
Emotions fluctuate.
We long to be free.
Yes, we are all the same—
swaying while cherishing our existence.
But no matter what we hold dear,
what truly matters is you.
存在は浮遊する | Being floatsome | Mixed Media | 53 cm×53 cm
$2,300
21 X 21
Sometimes, existence wavers.
Emotions fluctuate.
We long to be free.
Yes, we are all the same—
swaying while cherishing our existence.
But no matter what we hold dear,
what truly matters is you.
Her artistic vision rejects conventional beauty. Instead of painting vibrant flowers, she chooses to depict overlooked subjects like weeds and withered leaves, things that are often disregarded or seen as nuisances. By shining a light on these forgotten elements, Noriko invites viewers to find beauty in the overlooked and the ephemeral.
You exist no matter where you are.
Even if you wither or become ugly, you still exist.
Everyone and everything has value in existence.
That is why we are allowed to live, coexisting with nature.
There are things I never want to forget.
存在は生かされる | Existence is brought to life | Mixed Media | 53 cm×53 cm
$2,300
21 X 21
"I always use blue; it represents depth, mystery, and calm."
存在の向こう側 | The other side of existence | Mixed Media | 41 cm×41 cm
$1,200
21 X 21
Imagine this—beyond your own existence, there is something else, and there is someone else.
Even behind the shadow of someone important to you, there must be another important presence.
And that continues on forever.
Noriko's use of blue is intentional and deeply symbolic. For her, blue represents spiritual depth, the unknown, and a sense of calm. It is her favorite color and the primary medium through which she expresses her emotions. By working within this singular hue, she creates an immersive experience that conveys both serenity and introspection.
A cluster of pinecone fragments was gathered.
The contrast of white and blue created a striking presence.
This was to ensure that something important would not be neglected.
No matter what happens, you’ll be okay—you surely have allies by your side.
存在は主張する | Asserting Presence | Mixed Media | 41 cm×41 cm
$1,200
16 X 16
A distinctive feature of Noriko’s work is the use of leaf veins, often depicted in close-up detail. These fragile structures symbolize the cycle of life - things that wither, fall, are crushed, and yet continue to exist in some form. She deliberately emphasizes texture to highlight the delicate nature of her subjects. Through this poetic approach, she hopes to evoke emotions and offer a moment of reflection on the transient beauty of life.
存在は主張するII | Asserting Presence II | Mixed Media | 41 cm×41 cm
$1,200
16 X 16
The two clusters of pinecone fragments
assert themselves in the same way.
No matter what kind of existence, they make their presence known,
as if to say that simply existing is enough.
"The leaf veins I use show things that wither yet remain."
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