INDEX
Why I Enjoy Exploring Art Spots: Learning the Joy of Art from Children and My Fascination with the Frame Over the Masterpiece
What Do You Consider Most Important in Enjoying Art?
Katagiri: It’s important to feel freely without pursuing meaning too much. I try to enjoy art based on my intuition, without the constraint of “I have to feel this way.” For example, when experiencing art or theater, I sometimes remember something from my past that feels similar. It’s interesting how another person’s expression can link to my experiences, allowing daily life to blossom in new ways. That’s one of the great joys of art.
How Do You Enjoy Art with Your Son?
Katagiri: I’ve been going to museums with my son more often recently. When we visited the Pola Museum in Hakone to see Monet’s paintings, he was much more interested in the frames than the artwork itself. While I was pondering what the painting was expressing, he was in front of the masterpiece saying, “The frame is so cool!” [laughs].
It Seems to Resonate with Your Childhood Experience at the Van Gogh Exhibition, Where You Were More Focused on the Crowd Than the Art.
Katagiri: Yes! My son doesn’t care about the meaning of art yet; he simply reacts to what’s in front of him. Watching him enjoy art so freely reminds me to take a lighter approach as well. The idea that “there are no correct answers in art” is something I’ve learned from him anew. Children notice things that adults might overlook, so experiencing art together leads to new discoveries and is really fun.
