Setsuko Katayama, from São Paulo, began her artistic career in 1992. She dedicated herself to watercolor painting and from 1992 to 2020 to teaching the Contemporary Watercolor Language course in her studio. Her artistic work incorporates reflection: Time (transformation), The Look (sensitivity). In symbolic language, the artist seeks to express her connection with nature, and reflection and feeling that remind us of our human condition. With window cutouts, collages in high and low relief on paper, she creates new dimensions, new representations of pauses, ruptures, presences, absences that can provoke new sensory dynamics. She has held solo exhibitions and participated in group exhibitions in Mexico, Chile, Chicago, Beijing. She has received national and international awards. Her works are in public and private collections.
How did your journey into the art world begin?
I graduated in Advertising and Journalism. After working in these areas, after a few years I felt that they were not my path. I decided to start over.
Art has always been with me. I started with ceramic art and by synchronicity I met a master, Ubirajara Ribeiro, from whom I received artistic guidance. From 1992 onwards, I set up a studio and began to dedicate myself to painting and to teaching the Contemporary Watercolor Language course (which ended in 2020). At that time, the Contemporary Art Salons (linked to the Department of Culture) were the most accredited events for developing artistic curriculum. My watercolors were large-format abstractions on different supports. They began to be accepted and awarded. Over time, figures and shapes also became part of my paintings with their symbolism and meanings.
What themes do you prefer to explore in your works?
The transformations that occur over time always intrigue and enchant me. In the Western concept, time is linear, in the Eastern concept, time is circular. In both, they never stop. I like this slow and absolute passage of time that allows the sensitive eye to perceive the subtleties that form a whole. I really like the movement of transitions and transformations in life. Nature itself gives us this notion. The moment when one season of the year will transform into another. Material and immaterial fragments that were something in a time and space may have new meanings in different contexts, but they will somehow bring previous memories to fit into a whole.
What is your creative process like?
My creative process begins with the inspiration that arises from what my eyes capture. It arouses my curiosity and arouses feelings.
Whether during artistic creation, other activities, or wandering around at random. Images and thoughts emerge from somewhere, from everyday life or from my "boxes" of memories. I like to be alone, in a quiet space to begin a work. It is always an unknown journey when I pick up the brush, towards the future. In front of me, the blank paper and gestures, sometimes by intuition, sometimes with hesitation, sometimes with passion, sometimes with intention, gradually make their presence felt, establishing relationships, taking shape, indicating meanings. From that moment on, the series is defined. I know what the title will be, what forms of presentation, what techniques and materials I will use. Of course, coincidences and changes may occur during the process.
What materials and techniques do you use most often?
Always working with watercolor on paper, at a certain point I felt the need for more body in the painting. I started using other supports compatible with the technique. Raw cotton canvas prepared with crê plaster proved to be a great resource in this case. For the mixed technique I use watercolor, dry contè pencil, white tempera, collages, Japanese washi paper, and fragments of nature.
What is the meaning of art in your life?
For me, art is transformative, a catalyst for the incommunicable realms of the spirit. It transforms dreams into thoughts.
What advice would you offer to artists just starting out?
Prefiro oferecer sugestões a conselhos aos artistas que estão começando. Sempre ter um olhar atento e sensível à tudo , disciplina no fazer artístico e acrescentar conhecimentos diversos. Para um trabalho ser consistente leva tempo. Apresentá-los apenas quando tiver um número razoável de obras e sentir que elas mostram sua identidade. Optar por convocatórias idôneas e que tenham peso no circuito das artes. Sempre guardar uma obra de uma fase para o acervo pessoal. Não ter muita pressa de ficar expondo à toda hora em qualquer lugar. Isso constrói lastros para suas obras e carreira.
What is the role of the artist in today's society?
O artista sempre teve um papel fundamental em qualquer sociedade. Das primitivas às atuais. O artista é um mensageiro, visionário e guardião do que há de mais verdadeiro e sagrado na alma do ser humano e em sua expressão primordial.
Have you participated in any notable exhibitions that you would like to share?
Participar de exposições sempre são marcantes para um artista. É o lugar em que mostra suas obras e sente a plenitude de um ciclo. Revendo o que já fiz, por onde expus, premiações que recebi, tudo isso me lisonjeia e sou grata. Quero compartilhar duas situações, bem do início do meu percurso, que acho interessantes. A primeira foi no XXV Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Santo André. Naquele ano, os jurados (Thomaz Ianelli, Sergio Fingerman, Jacob Klintowitz) decidiram, de forma inusitada, selecionar apenas 10 dos quase 500 inscritos e premiaram 6. Eu estava entre as 10 e uma das premiadas. A segunda foi no 25° Salão Bunkyo de Artes Plásticas. Participava com 2 instalações em cerâmica "Versos da Terra" . Uma moça visitante se aproximou e com lágrimas escorrendo me disse: "Não entendo de arte, mas suas obras me emocionaram profundamente de tão bonita" Foi o feedback mais espontâneo e sincero que recebi até hoje.
