This is Mina Hamada
Mina Hamada is a Japanese artist who has been travelling the world doing massive murals and art exhibitions. Her artworks are explosions of colors and whimsical randomness. Ambiguous forms and figures pulsate brilliant hues reminiscent of the inner child’s favorite candy-colored dream. Through her art, Mina Hamada shares the joy of colors in sweet electric style.
Interview by Crist Espiritu.
Artworks by Mina Hamada.
Cover Photo by Gustavo Amaral.
Feature Photo by Didem Civginoglu.
Let’s start off with your history. How did you first get into art? Did you started showing creativity at a very early age? Tell us about it.
When I was little, I liked drawing and reading picture books. Before I could read the letters, I always brought many picture books to my mother to read it together before sleep.
Also I liked creating original histories and stories. When I was in an elementary school I had made a newspaper called ¨Suika no tane shinbun¨ (Watermelon seeds newspaper) and put it out in my class for everyone. I made four-frame cartoons and wrote short continued stories and news with my illustrations. So I liked creating things but also I liked animals and sports. So my mother thought I would work with something about animals. I think I was a normal healthy child. But many stories I read when I was small, always stay in my mind and I have influenced me.
“When I was in an elementary school I had made a newspaper called ¨Suika no tane shinbun¨ (Watermelon seeds newspaper) and put it out in my class for everyone.”
I read that you grew up in Japan. How influential was your environment to the development of your art?
I grew up in Tokyo, but several times my family moved house when I was child. From the center of Tokyo to the suburbs. I had experimented on changing places to live in order to know new town, new friends, new environment. I think I liked it. Maybe I like moving.
Now I am living outside of Japan, so I can see different points of view that I could not see before. Japan has a special culture; it is truly unique. These culture, consciousness, ideology are things I can find in myself. I think my creations are influenced by these things because I am Japanese. But before I left Japan I could not find these things.
When I was in Japan, some part of me felt like a stranger but here in Europe I am a real stranger, which makes me feel so Japanese. That is funny for me.
Can you tell us how you arrived at your current style of painting? Did you go through a lot of different styles before arriving on this one?
Before I came to Barcelona I also painted but spent more time to make picture books. I wrote short stories or poems and crafted small hand made books.
Also, I liked drawing with black ink, playing with free lines and mixing letters… so I could say it was so different from my current style. I always kept painting naturally. I did not try to change my style. All the things I’ve done and currently doing are constantly in development and I want to enjoy my self with this kind of evolution.
Your paintings have a very whimsical air to them. A lot of ambiguous forms seem to be floating around. Tell us about your process of coming up with these images. Where do you take this images from?
Whimsical air! Sounds good…
Normally I paint in improvisation. So I don´t know what I’m gonna paint and I don´t know how the finished work would look like. This way I can enjoy the process and it keeps painting interesting for me.
Usually when I start to paint I don´t have a plan. I just start and put colors I want and enjoy these colors and forms that came unconsciously or whimsically.
And after I have to think a lot to have balance to finish this part is difficult for me.
If I think a lot before painting, maybe my art will be boring. Because if I plan everything, it could result in limitations and less chaos.
It is better to leave my mind free. And I would like to enjoy that thrilling contingency in the process.
One more thing I like about your art is the seemingly erratic composition. You seem to have an automatist approach in art making. How precise are you when it comes to composition? Do you do a lot of studies first before hitting the canvas/wall?
“the seemingly erratic composition”! Also sounds good!
Like I wrote before, I don´t do sketch. So I just start painting directly without thinking, and just keep going. In some ways I have insecurity because it is possible I would paint super terrible things. But I try to have a balance inside erratic composition. I enjoy imbalance as well. A few times I had to make a sketch, but the way I painted changed a lot. I prefer to paint improvised but also one day I may try to prepare a perfect sketch to paint. It will be new and could be interesting, too!
“Normally I paint in improvisation. So I don´t know what I’m gonna paint and I don´t know how the finished work would look like. This way I can enjoy the process and it keeps painting interesting for me.”
What’s the best thing about doing public art?
Communication with neighbors, knowing more about the place where I am painting, feeling nature, touching and feeling the wall by my hand… feeling very simple joys.
Sun, water, moving my body, and sharing the happiness of colors with other people, these are so nice for me. Everything is simple but I enjoy it a lot.
“Communication with neighbors, knowing more about the place where I am painting, feeling nature, touching and feeling the wall by my hand… feeling very simple joys.”
You have been travelling around the world doing art. Is travelling, something that has a strong influence on your art as well?
Maybe yes. Travelling and always seeing the world keeps my mind fresh. A fresh mind gives me good energy and I think it is important for my creation.
When I go to new place, I can know other cultures, people, different ways to live. So I feel the world is so big but close.
I hope with my art we can communicate and be closer each other and share good feelings. Maybe that is the thing I can keep trying.
What constantly keeps you inspired to paint?
Small surprise and small adventure spirit!
Follow Mina Hamada on Instagram @mina_hamada
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