I consider my practice a new kind of art activity. When I introduce myself as an artist, people often assume, “Oh, so you make paintings!” Yes, I make paintings, but I identify more as a contemporary artist rather than a painter. I am drawn to conceptual art, inspired by figures like Marcel Duchamp.

My initial motivation to come to New York was to communicate through conceptual art. Interestingly, I had little interest in contemporary art until near the end of my studies. At Tama Art University, I majored in Information Design, mainly aiming for a stable career as a digital illustrator, game designer, or programmer. Yet, as I learned new digital tools, I became more uncertain about my future. I realized that as digital tools—including AI—become increasingly capable of creating, the meaning of human motivation, creativity, and existence itself comes into question.

During this period of uncertainty, I read about Takashi Murakami’s success in the contemporary art scene. I studied his approach and the logic of contemporary art, which inspired me to move to New York immediately after graduation—even without English fluency or connections—believing my conceptual ideas could create a new perspective on life.

My concept, “Physital,” merges digital and physical worlds. As humans become increasingly immersed in digital technologies, we are challenged to redefine ourselves conceptually, socially, philosophically, and physically. In conceptual art, the idea is paramount; a unique concept can be expressed through any medium or style, as shown by artists like Andy Warhol, Marcel Duchamp, Joseph Beuys, and Rirkrit Tiravanija. I have applied this concept in street art, performances, and community-focused projects, which allowed me to connect with galleries and institutions in New York, ultimately securing an artist visa and green card.

Recently, I discovered unique Japanese social practices such as “Nothing to Do” and “Rental Friend.” I saw these as an artistic approach to fostering direct human communication in a highly digitalized society. Today, many people experience loneliness and reduced social skills; while digital content dominates, people often do not engage physically or socially, even in a city like New York. Rising gallery rents also discourage communal gathering.

This inspired my “Rental Friend” project as an art activity. Through it, I aim to build meaningful, in-person connections and reaffirm what it means to be human in an increasingly digital world.