【Cherishing a Stingy Sensibility】 Dousa Interview
Dousa's solo exhibition "Meeting Up" will be held at Picaresque Gallery from Wednesday, November 19 to Sunday, November 30, 2025.
This time, we interviewed Dousa about herself, her production episodes, and the works being exhibited. We hope you enjoy it.
Please introduce yourself.
I am Sumimoto of Dousa. I am an individual artist who creates and sells original illustration stamps, both hand-carved and factory-produced. I have also produced postcards featuring prints as secondary products, but the process of capturing a single scene all at once is different from my usual stamp making and is interesting, so I took on the challenge after receiving this valuable opportunity for an exhibition featuring only prints.
Please tell us what inspired the worldview of your current work.
Honestly, it is difficult to give a clear story about what triggered it, but I want to cherish a stingy sensibility—like using a tank top until it's worn out or reusing a plastic bag from the supermarket as a shopping bag—no matter how old I get, so I hope that seeps into my work as my own unique character.
Please tell us why you use the materials you currently use for your work.
It is an easy-to-handle material that allows me to smoothly carve straight lines, curves, and even thin lines like hair with a chisel. Furthermore, it is extremely durable, so fine lines do not chip or collapse even after repeated test prints. In addition, because it is reasonably priced, I can work on my creations and studies without fear of failure, making it a reassuring presence that expands the range of my expression.
What kind of work do you want to create in the future?
I have a personality that is easily influenced by those around me, so even if I declare something here, I might be saying something different in a few months, but I want to create pictures that are not tiring to look at and can be viewed as a brain rest when you feel a bit down. And I want to aim for a style that makes people chuckle, or rather, makes them grin.
Could you tell us the concept of the works you are exhibiting?
Meeting a Crow
A crow and a person who made eye contact at opposite ends of a log balance beam. The person is holding a roasted sweet potato, and the crow is looking at it. The model for the background is a fairly large park in Chiba Prefecture, a place with many people and crows visiting for walks or dog walking. I used to walk across this balance beam to test myself when there was no one around during my walks, but it was recently removed due to aging. I felt sad, but I'm glad I could include it in this picture.
Meeting at a Coffee Shop
A person who has been kept waiting for a long time and a person who arrived late. The latecomer's sweatshirt says "Sorry," suggesting they probably knew they would be late from the moment they left the house. It is a picture that implies the person in the foreground had been waiting for quite a while. When I decided on the exhibition title "Meeting Up," I remembered being kept waiting for a considerable amount of time by a friend who is always late. Her excuse was, "I couldn't decide on the pattern of my socks."
Meeting in a Room
A person planning to drink in a room with a close friend. When meeting at home, the meeting time is more of a suggestion. It's a picture that feels like, "Let's meet around this time, and since there are drinks, bring your own food." The best holiday is lounging around watching your favorite videos or movies at a friend's house. It's a good thing to be able to do the same things as an adult that you've been doing since you were in elementary school.
Please give a message to our customers and everyone planning to visit!
I hope you find at least one picture you like.
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Dousa-san, thank you very much for sharing so many valuable stories. Which episode left the biggest impression on you all?
This is a rare opportunity to view the actual exhibited works of Dousa-san all in one place. We look forward to seeing you there.
Dousa Solo Exhibition "Meeting Up"
<Dates> November 19 (Wed) – November 30 (Sun), 2025
<Details>https://picaresquejpn.com/dousa_exhibition_2025/
<Dousa Official SNS>
X (formerly Twitter) https://x.com/dousadibi
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[Basic Business Hours]
*Open: Wed - Sun & Holidays 11:00 - 18:00 *Open until 21:00 on Thursdays only
*Closed: Every Monday and Tuesday
*Venue: Picaresque Gallery
*Address: 4-54-7 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
*Phone: 070-5273-9561
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■ List of Current & Past Exhibitions
https://picaresquejpn.com/category/information/
■ List of Upcoming & Scheduled Exhibitions
https://picaresquejpn.com/exhibition-calendar/
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