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POST WINGS Certified Digital Painting

2023

Japan Artist Noriyuki Muraki Authorized Global Limited Edition - Certified 30 Prints In the "Mapscape" series, Upon graduating from an art university in Japan, I embarked on a journey to France, where I immersed myself further in the study of art and lived as an artist for eleven years. The countless miles traveled between France and Japan exceeded circumnavigating the globe. These travel experiences served as the creative impetus for Mapscape. During my flights, within the confines of the aircraft cabin, I found myself "overlooking the scenery outside the window," sensing the beauty and vastness of our planet. Particularly captivating was the "top-down perspective," a viewpoint that changes based on one's location. Simultaneously, my perception of the "map" underwent a conceptual transformation. Originally serving a utilitarian purpose as a tool for determining precise locations and an indispensable companion for travel, I began to contemplate the map in visual terms. I found allure in its intriguing characteristic of being both flat and three-dimensional. While I was still living in France, I recollected the shape of Japan (the form of its islands) and began to cultivate imaginative thoughts. Due to the considerable distance, I started to perceive Japan in ways previously unexplored, prompting a reevaluation of the unique shape of my homeland. It was during this period that I once again realized my identity as a denizen of the island nation. This is a common example; the shape of the Japanese archipelago bears a remarkable resemblance to a seahorse. This realization became a starting point for reevaluation and development, and it can be said that it is connected to my current artistic expression. Starting from the seahorse, I have expanded my creative endeavors, intertwining marine life, the ocean, and imaginative imagery in my present artistic approach. These images, while conveying a direct message, also possess the charm to engage and captivate the viewer's interest. Thus, exploring the theme of being an "islander," which symbolizes my personal identity, becomes a significant subject matter. France is located a substantial 10,000 kilometers away from Japan. Over the course of these long eleven years, living abroad allowed me to examine "my country" (referring to Japan) from a different vantage point compared to when I resided in my homeland. This, in turn, led to numerous discoveries and interests related to Japan. Drawing from these personal experiences, this series represents a reintegration and reconstruction of perspectives gained through a fresh lens. Viewers who encounter this artwork experience a shift in their "viewing perspective" in relation to the distance between them and the artwork, adding an element of fascination. As previously described, these works encompass both the "top-down perspective" derived from my personal experiences and the "side view perspective," creating a paradox. In other words, these works are both flat and incorporate elements of three-dimensionality. Viewers are free to embark on imaginative journeys and, from these musings, narratives can unfold. If we can intertwine the interplay of light and shadow with the sense of three-dimensionality, it should enrich the depth of this series.

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