A 58-year-old office worker. The day I chose "I want to try" over "Can I do it?" ── Reasons for applying to the museum exhibition ──

"My work might be displayed in a museum."

That was the first thought that came to mind when I saw the recruitment post.

I am a full-time office worker who commutes to the office every day, having just turned 58 recently.

I have not studied art professionally, nor am I a professional creator.

If it were me a little while ago, I might have just read the recruitment post and thought, "That's amazing," and left it at that.

But this year, I am a little different.

"Whether I can do it" rather than "I want to try".

I have come to want to cherish that kind of feeling.

The trigger was the "NFT EXHIBITION ASHIKAGA 2026" being organized by Julia-san.

The venue is the Ashikaga Museum of Art.

The theme this time is to express Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's 'Thirty-two Aspects of Customs and Manners' in a modern style.

Whether it's Ukiyo-e style, modern art, or AI art, the method of expression is free.

When I read the recruitment post, I initially thought, "Is this an exhibition for people who do NFTs?"

So, when I checked with Julia-san, she told me that I could exhibit my work even if I didn't do NFTs.

With those words,

"In that case, I want to give it a try too."

That is how I felt.

If you are interested in the application details, please take a look at Julia's recruitment article.

If I apply, I plan to create a new piece featuring my original character, Shion.

The theme this time is to express a fleeting emotion or atmosphere, like 'looking like...'.

'Looking like she is lost'

I think a theme like that would be interesting too.

What kind of expression should I draw for Shion? What kind of story will be born?

I am already looking forward to the time spent thinking about such things.

And there is one more thing I am looking forward to.

During the exhibition period, merchandise sales are also planned at the museum shop inside the museum.

I would like to display merchandise of my original character, Sheepun, there.

I would be happy if I could make things like postcards and stickers that people would pick up and say, 'Oh, this is cute.'

The participation fee for the museum exhibition is 5,000 yen.

I hesitated a little.

However,
my work might be displayed in a museum.

When I thought about that, it was an opportunity I felt I wanted to challenge myself with.

From the moment I read this recruitment article, I found myself already thinking about a new piece of work.

I believe that time is also part of the challenge.

This year, I

took the IT Passport exam.

I started learning about AI.

I have been writing on note every day.

I am also challenging myself with Kindle publishing.

And this time,
I decided to try applying for the museum exhibition as well.

Looking back, all of these were things I initially

"Can I do this even in my 50s?"

thought about.

But halfway through, my way of thinking changed just a little.

Instead of deciding my future based on "whether I can do it,"
I decided to value the feeling of "I want to try."

That is how I came to feel.

I, too, am about to take a new step forward.

Won't you join me in taking on a challenge? 🌱

🔷 A new magazine has been created. It is a record of small realizations found in daily events.

#LivingWithAI
#50s
#Challenge
#AIArt
#Creation
#Museum
#OriginalCharacter
#Relearning
#Realization
#Essay