NL

From Kyoto to Utrecht

Exchange student Yuto follows his fascination for European art

Exchange student Yuto Okamoto is temporarily trading his Fine Art studies in Kyoto for a semester at HKU Fine Art. Both between and beyond the walls of Pastoe Factory, his goal is to strengthen his love for European art.
Since childhood, Yuto has been fascinated by European art history and icons such as Mondrian. “In a way, visual art was born in Europe,” he explains. “From there, it spread across the world – including to Japan. And so I felt a strong urge to see and experience European art history and culture with my own eyes.

Fascination with Mondriaan

Partly due to his admiration for Mondrian, Yuto’s decision to go to the Netherlands was an easy one. When browsing the list of academies with exchange programmes, HKU immediately caught his attention. “The Fine Art programme appealed to me the most.”

Equality

One thing that strikes Yuto about studying in the Netherlands, compared to his studies in Kyoto, is the way students and teachers interact. “In Japan, there’s much more distance – a clear hierarchy. Here the interaction feels more equal. The teachers are open and friendly, and so are the students. I feel free to ask questions and have conversations – that’s new for me, but I really enjoy it.”

Universal forms

As an artist, Yuto focuses on painting universal forms – work that resonates with everyone and evokes shared human experiences. He often uses geometric shapes and monotone colours. “I don’t just want to understand the Japanese art world, but the human need for art as a whole.”

While he’s not necessarily learning entirely new methods or techniques, Yuto does find that his new environment has a strong influence on his work. “It’s more about the observations I absorb here – they show up in my brushstrokes. It’s more about inspiration than technique.”

Real-life experiences

What does he hope to take back home? “In Japan, we’ve translated European art into our own context – but that’s not the same as actually being here. I want to take home the real stories and experiences of European art and culture – the ones rooted in everyday life.”