YoDo

"Let painting forever exist in my life, and let my inner self maintain like the strength of a calm, deep lake."

"Hi, hello, I’m YoDo!"

"Saying Hello" isn’t easy for me—it always takes repeated practice before it feels natural. Although I may seem lively now, that’s the result of time and experience. My name is derived from the archaic character “淀” in my given name, taken from “Yodogawa,” a river my father used to pass by while studying at Kansai University in Osaka. It symbolizes a calm and deep lake, representing my own aspirations.

For me, creating art is companionship. It helps me find balance between emotional highs and lows, as calm and powerful as a lake. In my work, the world exists in overlapping dimensions—coexisting yet maintaining their own boundaries. Due to past traumatic experiences, I suffer from dissociative symptoms and often feel like an alien temporarily inhabiting this body, eventually losing sight of who I truly am.

Children and innocence are a solace for my inner self. My paintings often feature children; sometimes they appear as kids, sometimes as adults. I believe that children understand more than we imagine—they’re simply constrained by the societal frameworks that limit their natural development. I hope that my work does not necessarily need to be completely understood, but can still bring pure joy. And if you choose to delve deeper, it will withstand the test of time.

Becoming an artist was never my original intention; it’s more like the river of life that led me here. Past traumas made me fall, but they also became the catalyst for picking up the brush again. It is a gift wrapped in disaster that, once unwrapped, reveals the source of growth and strength.

I’m YoDo—nothing extraordinary, just someone who converses honestly with themselves through creation. I will go with the flow, accepting every farewell and every new beginning, and continue to explore the depths and possibilities of life."