“Shadows of Star” is the title of one of my favorite artworks in Kyoto. I met the artists, Shiraishi san and Amakawa san at the National Museum of Modern Art while we were all panelists presenting at the ARTLINK Forum.  For me, the most inspiring stories were told by Shiraishi, an artist who loves to draw and paint, but happens to also be blind.

He spoke with a long lasting smile and with gusto.  In 2006 he was paired with a painter named Amakawa san.  A painter who was willing and ready for a challenge.  Shiraishi wanted to be inspired to interpret the abstract idea of how colors can be imagined by someone who has been robbed of the sense of sight.  The two worked together successfully for a while.  Then something unanticipated happened, Shiraishi began to care about the appearances of his artwork even though he could not see it.  He stated “my brain went totally blank…I was really confused that time like falling from the airplane in the air.”

It took him many weeks to begin to want to work again, and slowly through listening to music he began making circles and then began enjoying art again.  The two have made gorgeous work together, drawings and paintings combined with titles like “Color Of The Wind” and “The Tears Of Okinawa”. 

ARTLINK is a journey for the two participants and the journey does not always take you on a clear and easy path, but these two artists are perfect examples of the power of perseverance.