Don Porcella interviews Ai Kijima

Q. What brought you to art or what brought art
to you?
A. I wasn’t fully aware of my potential to become an
artist while I was in Japan. Although I loved making
clothing and all kinds of crafts as well as drawing
cartoons, my parents and relatives thought I would
become a doctor when I was a child. At my high school
senior year, I became an foreign exchange student in
Wisconsin.  My art teacher there recommended art school,
and I subsequently studied art at the School of the Art
Instituteof Chicago. I think the process of making art
helps me to identify mypsychological conditions
and transform myself back to my original state.
Q. What was your first art experience that you can
remember?
A. I made a torn paper mosaic when I was in kindergarten. I
remember that I tried to make a pretty picture to make my teacher and parents happy,
but knew it was not good. I wasn’t particularly good at expressing myself at that time.

Q. What influences your art?A.Everything around me.

Q. Where did you grow up/how has that location impacted your work?A. I grew up in the western part of the ward area of Tokyo. It’s a
quiet residential area and has its fair share of greenery with many beautiful parks
and fields.  Also, it’s a convenient location for getting into the middle
of the city. As a result, my work both embraces the mundane and nature.

Q. Is art learned or are you born with the talent. What does it take to be
successful in the arts?

A. You can learn certain things, but it’s important to know who you are and
how you can contribute to others. Passion and commitment are importantaspects to succeed.
Q. Do/Did your parents support the idea of you

being an artist?
A.None of my family members were artists/creative

profesionals, and they didn’t

fully understand what I was doing abroad, but they were
supportive about me being
creative.

Q.What are your hobbies?

I don’t really have hobbies. I guess collecting fabric/materials
is my hobby, but it’s also a part of my art making. I go to see
art at museums, galleries, performances when I havetime.
Q. What would you do with a million dollars?

I will think about it when I actually get such money.

Q. Do politics belong in art?

Almost everything has some angle of politics, but art is about an artist’s vision
and their way of seeing things.

Q. What artists do you like/collect? Please list your top 5
I see work by other artists, but don’t have favorites and don’t collect art at this

point.