How to enjoy "Untitled" art: Experience the work of the unique artist Midori Kudo in your own heart [Unique Communication #10]

I believe that art is something with infinite freedom, as each viewer can experience and enjoy it in different ways.

On the other hand, even though we are inherently free, many people may feel as if there is some "right way of looking at things," and have thought, "Maybe I'm looking at things the wrong way."

For such people, we would like to recommend paintings by unique artists with intellectual disabilities that have no title. That's right, the group of works titled "(Untitled)."

How to enjoy "Untitled" art

There are many works by HERALBONY contract artists that do not have the title "(Untitled)." The artists themselves did not have a specific purpose in mind when drawing these works, but rather drew them freely as they felt. These "Untitled" works give the viewer freedom to draw without being influenced by the image that the title may evoke.

When I view the work of an unusual artist, I try to look closely at the abstract works and think about what kind of breath or personality I sense in the artist's work, and what I feel from them myself, allowing my imagination to expand freely without restricting my thinking as much as possible.

This time we will be focusing on Midori Kudo, the artist behind her signature piece "(Untitled) (Blue)," which is often used in HERALBONY products.

What I will write from here on is merely what I felt when I came into contact with her art. I hope that you will freely look at her art with your own sensibilities, thinking, "Oh, so that's another way to look at it."

Enjoy the "Untitled" work at your own pace.

One day at the Lumbini Museum. Let's take a look at Midori's work in progress.

The soothing sound of the marker pen continues quietly, rustling. Just vertical lines and the occasional horizontal line.

On top of blue, there's green. Then there's red. And purple. ... and so the lines overlap again and again, sometimes changing colors.

It's like a pleasant rain of colors that could go on and on forever.
Then change the color again and again, spreading it out left and right, up and down, and layering another color on top of the previous one.

How far will it continue?... In Midori's hands, an endless world unfolds on the limited amount of drawing paper.

The relentless rain suddenly begins to look like a storm gently sweeping away cherry blossom petals, and the scenery takes on the appearance of a powerful yet warm spring scene filled with gentle air.

Next time, instead of focusing on the entire piece, why not focus on each tiny brush stroke?

Various colors mix randomly, other colors peek out from the background, and the expression changes depending on where you cut it. To me, it looks just like the delicate fluctuations of a person's heart.

What was Midori drawing?

According to the facility, "I'm sure I'm not aiming for a perfect form." All of Midori's works are titled "Untitled." There are no titles.

Midori moves her pen as her heart desires, and among the countless lines that spread out, she simply and faithfully runs the colors over "this color" and "this place" that naturally well up from within, drifting through time and drawing. Perhaps there is a world that only she can see, a world that we cannot understand.

Depending on the viewer, this work may look like rain, wind, flowers in a meadow, or countless people gathered together.

What does it look like to you?

The surprising true face of this unique author

At first glance, Midori's works appear to be randomly arranged sequences of dots and lines, but I feel there is something soft and gentle about them.

Watching Midori at work, she appears to be completely immersed in her own inner world, but in fact she has a charming and gentle personality that is also appealing.

According to the people at the facility, he also pays close attention to the people around him. The reason he started making art was because he was influenced by other people at the facility, including Toyoshi Yaegashi, who was also there.

It has a soft and fluffy atmosphere, and has a mysterious vibe where people just come up to you and talk to you without any hesitation.

Furthermore, when their work becomes a product, they show this carefree smile.

When a hotel decorated with his art was completed in Iwate, he patted the head of Heralbony employee Tanno.

At the facility, he is known for telling everyone around him, "I love you!"

Abe To the former prime minister: "Brother, buy me an umbrella!"

There's also this surprising episode.

Midori participated in the "Gathering of Prime Minister Abe and People with Disabilities" held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Abe was the head of state at the time. Midori spoke these words to the former Prime Minister while holding an umbrella featuring her own artwork.

"Big brother, big brother, please buy my umbrella!"

Although everyone around was shocked at first, the room was suddenly filled with smiles, including former Prime Minister Abe.

Within the framework of society, he may have the title of "Prime Minister," but in Midori's eyes, he is just a person, her "older brother." This episode shows Midori's gentle personality.

Midori Kudo's work embraces "difference"

The impression I got from Midori's work is one of "endless" and "softness."

I think this is surely a reflection of Midori's flexibility, her ability to think outside the box and accept others.

They are not always the same shape or color, but slightly different shapes and different colors that blend together. I think they make us feel as if they are gently embracing all of us, who are all slightly different.

The "Untitled" work is unique in that it allows the imagination and emotions to swell in this way. There is no right way to enjoy the work. Whatever you feel is "nice here," "it could be like this," or "it looks like this," is the right way to enjoy it in your own way.

HERALBONY has many other unique artists who create "untitled" works. When you come across these works, please try to approach the art with your own free sensibility.

We will continue to do our utmost to carefully communicate not only the works themselves, but also the personalities and appeal of the artists, so that we can create opportunities for everyone to enjoy the works even more.

HERALBONY BUDDY WEEK

We named the period spanning two international days established by the United Nations, "World Down Syndrome Day" on March 21 and "World Autism Awareness Day" on April 2, HERALBONY BUDDY WEEK. This year, in honor of the symbolic color blue, Midori's drawing "(Untitled) (Blue)" is featured as the key visual on the special BUDDY WEEK page.

Towards a world where people can live as they are, as irreplaceable individuals, beyond the frameworks of "autism," "Down syndrome," and "disability."

*Midori Kudo herself is not an artist with Down's syndrome or autism. We chose her as the key visual for this project because of the colors in her work and the worldview she conveys.

Products featuring this artist's work

Midori Kudo

Currently enrolled at Lumbini Museum (Iwate Prefecture)

At times she is floating about, smiling and talking to someone around her as if she is dreaming. At other times she is alone, immersed deeply in her own inner world. Kudo's gaze drifts, chasing something that only she can see in her mind. Is it an image of happiness that fills her heart? Or is it to prevent pain and sadness from being reflected in her mind? Or...

Kudo's work has an endlessness that seems to come from meditation. Is she conscious of creating something? When she draws, sews, or does something that is hard to understand, there is a mysterious air that makes you wonder.

>See the artists' works and their creative process