About Me
Artist
{さや鼻}
SAYAHANA
（SAYAKA ONO）
<Profile>
I studied Information Design at Kyoto University of Art and Design. After graduating, I worked as a Graphic Designer in Osaka at first and then pursued work in Los Angeles. But it wasn't until five years ago that I decided to return to Japan and begin working in the Art and Education Industry. Working as an Art Teacher gave me the opportunity and experience to start up schools like After-School and an International Pre-School. It also allowed me the chance to work as an Art
Teacher there as well. Currently, I work at Wai Wai Art Class where I support children with disabilities to create art.
Having gotten to know what real art is from witnessing "Outsider Art," I've finally realized how wonderful it is to truly express yourself in your own way, which has allowed my fascination for the possibility of education to grow and
flourish. Therefore I am determined to seek out the
betterment of education on a daily basis.
I love to expand my interests and passion by meeting new people and exploring foreign countries!
Certificates:
*Junior High and High School Art Teacher
*U.S. Creative Curriculum Teacher
In my own way, I want to freely live by following my heart.
In my own way, I want to clearly express myself.
Up until now I have been constantly living in pursuit of “who I am,” “what it means to live by following my heart,” and what the meaning of the human expression of art really is.
As Alfred Adler, the founder of individual psychology, once said:
"There is no meaning to life except the meaning man gives by himself."
Although I was brought up in a seemingly perfect environment, my heart was never content. "Why?" I asked myself. It was because I couldn't find the meaning of life, and I couldn't find what I wanted to do with my life.
When I was a university student, I was exposed to many kinds of art but I was constantly disappointed with myself because I couldn't figure out my own style of expression. I kept pushing through, hoping to find myself through new experiences. However, after some time, I realized that the “me” that I had been searching for was something made up by society.
It took a long time for me to be able to encourage myself, to love myself, and to not care about what others thought of me. I'd like to now share something that I learned since then by following my own heart.
Art is Life.
Life is Art.
Art isn't some special thing, art is simply the expression of one's life. The Wagamama Project is my work, my way of expression, and my life's meaning.
The theme of this work is to let people be "わがままWagamama" and to bring out their creativity. Though "Wagamama" might have a negative connotation, people misunderstand the meaning of it as "self‐centered" or "having self-interest" in other word. But it's totally opposite. "Wagamama" simply means "being yourself". And "being yourself" will bring you that you can also have interests to the others which is really important to take {間ma} between you and the others.
So here is my point. Being "Wagamama" is the equivalent "to following your heart." If you can live by being "Wagamama", you will be able to accept the existence of "Wagamama" in others. In doing so, I believe you may not even care for things that are referred to as "Wagamama". Because if you cannot live by being "Wagamama" yourself, you won't be able to accept the"Wagamama" attitude of others and this may lead to disappointment or agitation for everything in your life.
By accepting "Wagamama" and embracing your creativity, it can transform your life into a more colorful one. It will even make you more flexible and confident in how you deal with problems of any kind.
What next?
Well after letting people be "Wagamama" with how they carry themselves, "Wagamama" will no longer be a part of them. Because as I touched upon earlier, all people will simply accept the nature of others to the point we won't need to use the word "Wagamama" anymore.
Be Creative! Be Wagamama!
This is what I want to do, and how I choose to live my life.