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March 9, 2010
The Unwritten 14 cover preview
DC Vertigo series The Unwritten is at its' 11th issue now (issue #11 comes out tomorrow), but Vertigo cover artists actually work a lot ahead, even more ahead than interior art, and sometimes on script that is not even finalized yet.
So, even the day before #11 is out, I am actually currently working on #15 cover. Yes, that's how ahead we work.
#14 cover just got the approval bit more than a week ago. Usually they don't reveal the cover for another month or so, but this time, Vertigo editing team decided to go ahead and post it on their blog way early.
This is a special cover. Creators Mike and Peter, as well as editor Pornsak had been discussing for a while about how they wanted me to create "Where is Waldo" cover. I have been putting it off, off and off.... till I had no more reasons to put it off anymore! Ha. So, I decided to finally dive into it in the idea.
All the loyal Unwritten readers, you may not be able to spot all the characters because a few of them are future characters who will not appear until issue #12. Also, there is one character thrown in there who is not from this series but from another series by Mike and Peter. Mike and Peter took the quiz too, and of course, they were able to spot everyone. Now, can you?
school visits!
I am finally settling down into my new home, and slowly starting to travel out again.
I was invited to New Jersey City University last week (Thank you for the warm welcome!), and heading out to University of Wisconsin Eau Claire next week, FIT lecture toward the end of the month and SCAD in Savannah, GA in April. Looking forward to seeing you all the students!
new blog post
trying to post more... new one today.
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March 2, 2010
WooHoo! New York Times Best Seller list!!
How exciting!! the first volume of The Unwritten, the collection of the first five issues of the DC Comics vertigo series I have been illustrating the cover for, is so far, ahem, on the week 6 of New York Times Best Seller list!
On the right is the current best seller list in graphic novel category.
I cannot stress enough! The Unwritten is a very well written, mysterious, intellectual and interesting story. Definitely not your kids' comic book. And, I am not saying this because I do the covers. It is REALLY good.
Every issue, I research and learn about historical fiction I have read or not read in past.
I have just finished the cover for issue No. 14. No.11 coming out this month. And, we may be able to have a brand new cover for collected volume No.2, so stay tuned :-)
New Blog Post
on Drawger today. If you have time...
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February 18, 2010
| Introducing: TutorMill –– the new way to study illustration –– |
It is official!
A completely new way for aspiring artists to study illustration, online illustration mentoring course TutorMill has just launched.
It is run by the same people who makes Drawger and Illoz happen, and the idea was conceived by illustrators and good friends: Gary Taxali and Thomas Fuchs.
We love teaching, but it is limited to a few classes in the cities we live in, and occasional school visits and workshops outside. Now with TutorMill, students can be living anywhere in the world to study with us. You choose a class you are interested, two instructors you like, and whether you want 3 week quick course, or 6 week long-duration course.
My former studio-mate and best friend Marcos Chin is also on TutorMill. (and we are already picked to teach a student together.)
TutorMill soft-launched this week, and students already started enrolling. I had conversations with some of my students, and having a great feeling on starting the courses.
To learn more, read class descriptions, look through the bio of the instructors, please visit TutorMill.com
(on the left is my page on TutorMill)
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February 9, 2010
I had to take a while off from work to pack my whole apartment and move. My new place is great, but still a big mess with boxes everywhere and there are many things I cannot find. Did I loose them or they are still in the boxes?? I have no idea...
But anyway, as you can see, I am finally (close to) back to a regular schedule. |
Society of Illustrators Book/Editorial Show now open
Society of Illustrators' Annual Book/Editorial show is now open. If you are in New York, don't miss all the original paintings and drawings that got accepted into this competition. I am taking my SVA students up there for a class trip next week and they are very excited. The show is up till February 20th.
Reception and award ceremony was held last Friday. I was excited to receive gold medal for this piece (photo right). Thank you judges and thank you ADs. I am really really honored.You can read my recent blog post about the creative process of this image.
But actually, what excited me the most was that my high school classmate and talented Tatsuro Kiuchi flew in from Tokyo to this cold-cold New York to receive his Silver Medal! We kept in touch, but haven't seen each other since our graduation. Wow.
On the photo, from left to right: Ai Tatebayashi, Hiromichiito, me, Tatsuro Kiuchi |
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Live Your Dream Art Contests for kids
I have been helping judge Soroptimist.org's Live Your Dream Art contest. The purpose is to inspire young girls to have female role models and live their dreams. Young girls from all over the world is participating in this art contest. Finalist are just announced. Please cast your vote and spread good fortune! |
and some site update....
Bad habit! I had left alone SHOWS & EVENTS for a long long time. I finally updated with some new info.
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January 21, 2010
| How can this be possible that it is already two-thirds into January??? I have just been completely swamped between deadlines and personal stuff (I am moving to a new apartment at the end of the month). Here are some great news to catch up on... |
MORIBITO 2 receives Batchelder Honors!!
On January 18, American Library Association announced this year's literary award winners, and Moribito 2: Guardian of the Darkness (written by Nahoko Uehashi, translated by Cathy Hirano, Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine) received Mildred L. Batchelder Honors. I have illustrated both of the Moribito books (both covers and interiors) and had so much fun on the project. I was amazed by how deep and meaningful the book was, so it is a fantastic news.
If you have not read it yet, this book is not just for young readers. I highly recommend it. Below is a part of wrap around cover illustration.
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I guess January is the time of the year for the "best ... of 2009" lists. Lucky Yuko has a few more announcements. Thank you SO much everyone!
Freistil (Germany) chooses Yuko as the best international illustrator of the year 2009
Wow, who voted for this? Thank you those of you who did.... Berlin-besed illustration organization Freistil has chosen the best of 2009, and they gave me the "best international illustrator" title. thank you SO much.
For the rest of the results, see their blog.
Comic Book Resources: The 50 Best Covers of 2009
The Unwritten (DC Comics Vertigo) issue No.7 cover was chosen as one of the 50. Thank you So much. There are some really nice covers on the same list. My favorite is one by Rafael Grampa.
featured on BibliOdyssey
PK from a fantastic blog BibliOdyssey kindly wrote a post on my work process. Thank you!
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December 28, 2009
| Wow, 2009 is ending already! Hope everyone is having a good holiday season. I had a relaxed Christmas weekend with family and friends. |
and the award goes to...
"the best ___ of 2009 " season is here. And some exciting news.
IGN's Best Comic New Series was awarded to The Unwritten! Although I am taking a very small part (cover artist) in this DC Vertigo series, it is very exciting or me.
Also, COMPLEX Magazine has released their 50 Best Comic Book Covers of 2009, and two of my covers (The Unwritten issue No. 1 and No. 3 made the cut.
Thank you everyone who has been supporting and reading the series, and Mike, Peter and everyone from DC Comics who are involved in the project.
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December 12, 2009
thank you IDEA (アイデア) MAGAZINE
Japanese design magazine idea(アイデア) issue No.338 just came out this week. Special feature: Post Pop Graphics. The issue has ten page feature of my work including rather long interview on how I started working as an illustrator in the New York, difference between Japanese and western illustration markets, advice for those who aim to work in the world market, etc.
Besides a big thank you that goes to editor Ms. Makie Kubo, this feature has a very special meaning for me.
I have moved to New York exactly 10 years ago from Tokyo, and although my work has been commissioned, published and/or featured in many countries around the world, I had yet worked with a Japanese client, and this is the first time my work was officially introduced to the Japanese art/design community.
It really means a lot to me.
I will post the actual pages on PRESS SECTION soon. For now, you can see all the featured artists' works and purchase info on idea Magazine site. |
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a stocking stuffer idea
Christmas is only two weeks away. Have you finished all your holiday shopping yet?
Here is a stocking stuffer suggestion from me. My agent over in London, CIA (Central Illustration Agency) has come out with a cool weekly desk calendar yet again. Fifty-two illustrators each created a page of original image, this year's theme was: words that have 'ace' somewhere. Mine (center) is "placebo". This calendar is £7 in the UK and £12 elsewhere. A must have for illustration fans. Purchase from CIA Shop. |
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December 10, 2009
Finally, finally, finally...
Ladies and gentlemen, I have added 12 new, yes 12 new, images to RECENT ILLUSTRATIONS section. I cannot believe I hadn't added any new illustrations since August 10!! It may actually be the longest on record. Ugh. It is quite embarrassing. Never again.
I am hoping that I learn from this, and start updating the section more often. But in the meantime, don't forget to check out my blog which gets updated more frequently. I just added a new post there today as well.
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December 5, 2009
November 30, 2009
November 5, 2009
shhhhh...! secret project sneak peek
I just finished a collaboration project with cool messenger bag brand tausche from Germany. Right now I cannot reveal much of the images other than some detail shot (bottom photo on top row).
That there will be 8 hand-painted special one-of-a-kind bags revealed and available soon in tausche store in Daikanyama, Tokyo. I am participating in this project together with artist friends Thomas Fuchs, Thilo Rothacker and Gary Taxali.
I will let you know more details as soon as I can!
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October 27, 2009
October-November Traveling Schedule
When I am in my studio, I don't have enough time for anything other than work and work related things. So when universities, colleges and/or design organizations invite me to speak, I try my best to fit as many as I can into my schedule. (Although, unfortunately I cannot schedule them all recently.)
October and November have been extremely busy months for me.
I was at CCA in San Francisco mid month, then last week there was a one day trip up to Western Connecticut State University, then meeting with a faculty and students from Art Institute Florida the following day. Next week, I will be meeting with Marywood University at Type Directors Club as well as attending at School of Visual Art MFA Illustration program open house.
And the grand finale of all these is at the late month in Hong Kong for illustration competition judging and conference.
I have to admit that I over-scheduled and a bit exhausted, but I am looking forward to all the upcoming event, and of course a bit of a quiet time in December.
SVA MFA Illustration open house: November 7
School of Visual Art MFA Illustration program open house. I will be attending for a short talk about my experiences there, and answer some of the questions you may have.
Anyone who is interested in applying to this wonderful program (where I had studied) can attend the event, however registering in advance is required. To learn more and read about the program and event, please check their website.
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October 16, 2009
IdN 15th Anniversary Edition
Hong Kong based design publisher IdN's 15th anniversary special book has just come out. It is a hard-bound book with 452 page full of design/illustration goodness. My work gets four pages in this handsome book thanks to IdN editing team who has been very supportive of me since I first started. (They were one of the first to kindly feature my work in their magazine back in 2005.) Thank you, and see you in Hong Kong next month?
Click on the photo below to see more. |
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SPECTRUM Exhibition closes
Thank you for everyone who were involved in / came to Spectrum Exhibition at The Society of Illustrators in New York City. Tomorrow (Sat, October 17) is the last day. If you are in town and have time, please don't miss this fun show of fantasy art. |
October 14, 2009
thank you CCA, thank you San Francisco
I am back from San Francisco and catching up on deadlines. Thank you SO much for everyone who came stop by to the lecture, and laughing at the right punch lines. (yes, that's important!) You were all so nice. It was a quick trip with crazy schedule, but I had so much fun (and so much good food too.) Big thank you to Bob Ciano, Alexis Mahrus, Robert Hunt, John Hersey and everyone else at CCA.
October~November lecture tour
So, starting San Francisco trip, I will be running (and sometimes flying) around for total of six lectures/talks which will end in Hong Kong, China at the end of November.
Most of them are private talks, but some are open to public (or broader audience) which I will keep posting onto the SHOWS & EVENTS section.
There will be School of Visual Arts MFA Illustration open house on November 7th, which anyone who is interested in applying to the program can register and come. I will be there and do a very short talk (10 minutes?) about my experiences at the program, and hopefully answer some of your questions. See details on SHOWS & EVENTS section.
THE UNWRITTEN issue No.6
has just come out this week. This is my favorite cover I have done so far. (right) Please pick one up at a nearest comic book store.
new blog post
Also, I just posted a new blog thread about a fun project I did for MAXIM Magazine. And yes, I will post about THE UNWRITTEN new cover soon as well.
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October 7, 2009
CCA lecture is tomorrow night in San Francisco. Hope to see you there! (Please see below).
I am flying out west-bound early tomorrow morning, and therefore studio in New York is closed till Monday. Have a good weekend. |
September 27, 2009
San Franciscans, come out come out! : lecture at CCA
Thanks to a kind invite by California College of the Arts (CCA), I will be coming to San Francisco to give a lecture on October 8th (Thu). It is open to pubic, so you don't need to be a CCA students to enter. If you are interested and have extra time on October 8th, please come stop by! |
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September 17, 2009
The Unwritten issue 5 is out
and a new blog post....
DC Comics Vertigo's series The Unwritten's issue No. 5 just came out this week.
In the meantime at my studio, I am busy working on the issue No.9 cover which is due to my editor next week. (Yes, we work WAY in advance.)
I just posted on my blog the creative process of No. 5 as it has been a while since I posted about issue No. 1. Please check it out when you have time.
I cannot stress enough how well written The Unwritten is. If you are one of those people who think 'comic books are just for kids' it will make you change your idea.
Giappone Tradizione e Innovazione is closed
This exhibit of historic and contemporary art from Japan has just closed in Rome, Italy. Thank you so much for everyone who has visited, and all the press who wrote nice reviews. More shows to come.
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September 15, 2009
teaching....
Chaotic first week of school has just finished, and finally have a little bit of time to update my site...
This school year, I am teaching two classes at SVA including Senior Portfolio Class I am teaching for the first time. I am co-teaching with the one and only Thomas Woodruff: my former instructor/MFA thesis advisor and chair of Illustration and Cartooning Dept. at SVA. He was one of the best instructors I have ever had as a student. Excited, and a bit nervous!
new press in Argentina: 90+10
Ah, I loooooved Argentina when I visited Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls about a year ago! And recently, a fellow illustrator and an Argentinean, Fernanda Cohen, was kind enough to write a really nice article on me in an Argentinean design magazine 90+10. Wait.... OK, Fernanda, I don't read Spanish, so I really don't know what's written there, but I trust you! ;-)
I have posted the article for those who read Spanish. Big thank you, again, to Fernanda.
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Spectrum Show up till Oct 17th
Spectrum Show is now open (see below)! The opening gala was fantastic. (You can peek into the gala through Irene Gallo's blog.) See all these powerful paintings in person and get lost in the world of beautiful brush strokes. The show is open till October 17th, and admission is free. |
September 8, 2009
Hope you had a nice Labor Day Weekend (if you are in the US). Summer is officially over, and the school has started. I am teaching two classes at SVA this school year. Welcome back students.
SPECTRUM EXHIBITION 2 opens
Spectrum Fantastic Art's second exhibit has just opened at The Museum of American Illustration at The Society of Illustrators (128 East 63rd Street,
New York City). This show covers selected works from Spectrum annual Volumes 12 through 15.
I will have one work in the show (picture on the right: editorial piece for PLAYBOY). Read more about this show, buy tickets for the opening event (Friday, September 10) on the Society of Illustrators site.
(photo of the show below is from Spectrum Exhibition1 borrowed from Spectrum site.) |
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August 20. 2009
| Thank you IllustrationMundo |
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Talented illustrator and the man behind IllustrationMundo, Nate Williams, kindly invited me to the site and gave me a feature. You are so nice, Nate. Thank you.
Oh, by the way, who are the people in the photo? Nate wanted pictures that show who I am, so I picked one of my favorites from a group trip to Lisboa a few years ago. Gary, Thilo, Axel, and Thomas all the way in the back. |
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Venice Illustration Workshop Report
A new blog post about the recent illustration workshop in Venice, Italy is up. Check out photos and see some of my students' fantastic works. |
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August 14, 2009
Two Books Soon To Be Out From Gestalten
Awesome German art book publisher and the nicest editing team of Gestalten just announced the release of new books for fall, and I am thrilled to be in two of them.
The first one is ILLUSIVE 3 (right), which will be published at the end of the month in Continental Europe, and everywhere else in September.
The first two volumes of ILLUSIVE were best-sellers, so some of you may know about this awesome collection of contemporary illustration. My works as well as my best friend Marcos Chin's are in both ILLUSIVE 2 and ILLUSIVE 3.
I have not seen the book yet, but I am supposed to have an interview section in this latest book. I am extra excited. Thank you so much Henni!
The second one is Hair' em Scare' em (bottom) due later in Fall.
This one is a good example of Gestalten-speciality-style books I love: photo, fine art, design, illustration, anything visual all in one book without any distinction under one theme. Obviously, this time, the theme is "hair".
The website preview shows a spread of my Bjork portrait right next to a photo of Bjork with artist Shoplifter's actual hair sculpture.
I have to say, this is my dream come true. I have been a long time Bjork fan, as well as an admirer of Shoplifter's amazing works. By the way, Shoplifter is a really good friend of my best friend Agata Nowicka and I have met her once. Super nice person. Another friend Ai Tatebayashi is also featured in this book.
Big thank you to Matthias and Elizabeth for including me in the book.
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August 10, 2009
updates of ILLUSTRATIONS section
Ah, I did it again! I didn't update the ILLUSTRATION SECTION for so long, I ended up uploading 8 new images all at once today.
And you know what? Because I work like this, I tend to forget some images, and they sit in my harddrive not get updated to my website for a longtime. I should look thorughly into my harddrive sometime very soon...
Anyway, for now, 8 new images are here.. |
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August 4, 2009
I came back from Venice, Italy last weekend. It was REALLY hot, but teaching there was fantastic surrounded by enthusiastic Italian, British and Canadian students. I will write a blog post about it soon. In the meantime, there are some new posts on my blog this week.
The Gap t-shirts are sold out
Thank you everyone who has purchased The Gap Product Red artist t-shirts. They are pretty much completely sold out. And your purchase has helped one step closer to eliminating AIDS in Africa.
It is my
friend and artist Yoko Kiuchi in these photos. These are taken by her husband and photographer Kai Kiuchi. Thank you both.
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The Unwritten Second Printing
Thank you for your support! The Unwritten issue No.1 and No.2 both are sold out, and the second printing with variant covers (left and center) are now in stores. The latest issue now is No.3 (right), and the issue No. 4 will be published next week on August 12. I have, so far, done with the first 9 covers and about to start the 10th. The story gets better and better, and I am having more and more fun working on them. So please continuously support The Unwritten series. Big thanks to my dear editor Pornsak, and Mike and Peter team, among everyone else involved in making this series happen.
I added all these new cover layouts to ILLUSTRATION SECTION.
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July 20, 2009
| I am away from July 20 to 30 teaching an illustration workshop in Venice, Italy. I have no access to my mobile/studio phones and voice-mails.
I should be checking e-mails once a day or two. Thank you. |
July 18, 2009
PEPSI MAX Yuko-Can now available
I designed this Pepsi Max can about a year and half ago. I never heard from the client that it came out. Then Pepsi changed their logo. I thought it was one of those jobs that never end up reaching the final 'product stage'... until... a kind stranger, James Lester of UK, e-mailed me that he just drank Pepsi from my can he bought at his office vending machine. He even sent me the photos. Thank you, James.
When The Gap T-shirts came out, a lot of people outside the US and Canada asked me if they can buy them in their countries. Well, you may not be able to get the T-shits, but my Pepsi Max should be available everywhere BUT the US and Canada.
(By the way sidetrack..., do we have different Pepsi logo only in the US??)
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July 16, 2009
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Be The Best Illustrator in Greater China! – call for entries –
Are you a Chinese illustrator? Then this news is for you!
The First Greater China Illustration Awards has just been announced.
It is an illustration competition for artists from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.
It is a huge honor that I can participate in this exciting competition as one of the judges. I will be coming to Hong Kong in November to award YOU as the best illustrator in Greater China, so good luck!!
Application and other details can be read on their official website: gciawards.org
MORIBITO II in Stores
The photo on the right was taken at Kinokuniya Bookstore New York this week. The second book of Nahoko Uehashi's Moribito series is now in bookstores near you (on top left). Also, the first book in the series is now out in paperback (on bottom left).
The English translation of this award-winning Japanese young-adult fantasy is published from Scholastic in the US. Each book has illustrated wrap-around cover. I also illustrated chapter openers in book interiors as well. |
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July 10, 2009
Baby Tiger!
Below are photos of baby Valdemar of Sweden fashionably wearing Libero Tiger diapers with my designs. There is a new post about Valdamar and papa Truls Bärg on my blog page, so please check it out. |
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Last Minutes Application for Venice Illustration Workshop
I will be coming to teach illustration in Venice, Italy in about two weeks. There are a few more slots available. If you are interested in the last minutes enrollment, please contact the organizer Teatrio ASAP.
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July 3, 2009
Group Show in Rome, Italy
Giappone Tradizione e Innovazione (Japan – Tradition and Innovation) has opened at Casa della Letterature in Rome this week. This exhibition focuses on art and culture from Japan, both the old and the new. Other than showing famous ukiyo-e prints from Edo Period, they also feature works by six contemporary Japanese illustrators. Although I don't live/work in Japan, as a Japanese illustrator (nationality-wise) I got invited to be one of them as well. The exciting part of it is that one of the other participants is Tatsuro Kiuchi, an amazing illustrator and my dear high school classmate whom I got reconnected a few years back when we found out that we both ended up becoming illustrators.
The show will be up till September 10th. Read more details here (Italian). |
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July 1, 2009
Newsweek feature: 100 Japanese People the World Respects
Newsweek Japan July 8 issue has came out today with a special feature titled: 100 Japanese People the World Respects. Surprisingly, they chose me to be one of them. I am extremely, extremely, honored...
I left Tokyo in the summer of 1999, exactly ten years ago. Since then, I had gone back to school for four years and now working as an illustrator and teaching at the school I studied, I now fortunately have clients all over the world and travel around for lectures and workshops, except for, well, in Japan. So, it really means extra special to me. And, I will try my best to live up to it... You can read the full article here (Japanese).
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The very special thank you goes to: Colin Joyce, the writer for Newsweek and the person who decided to interview me and convinced the Japanese editing team that I will make a good article (and he really did write an amazing article, which make me look 10X better!), photo-editor Hideko Kataoka, and editor Atsuko Koizumi who happened to be my high school classmate and we ended up having this serendipitous reconnection through this article.
Also, Jason Treat of The Atlantic who gives me gallery page in the magazine every month through which Colin first found me, SooJin Buzelli of Asset International and my studio-mate Marcos Chin who made really kind comments about my work, and of course, everyone else who has supported me and be kind to me through out the years.
Thank you thank you thank you. |
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