We recently connected with Moeko Machida and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Moeko, thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am genuinely content with my life as an artist. After graduating from art university in Japan, I worked part-time but never considered full-time employment in a conventional job. Working as an artist feels like the most natural and fulfilling way for me to live.

Since childhood, I have carried within me a vision of a world I want to see and experience—an ephemeral yet vivid sense of something beyond the ordinary. This vision has always guided my creative journey. Through art, I strive to capture and share fragments of this world with others. During the process of creating, there are rare but deeply rewarding moments when the work begins to align with the image I hold in my mind. In those moments, I feel a profound connection to why I do what I do, bringing me a sense of purpose and fulfillment that words cannot fully capture.

My part-time work experience in Japan was also invaluable. Working at a B2B consulting firm and an e-commerce company allowed me to develop practical skills, such as understanding business workflows and handling administrative tasks. These experiences have been essential in managing my practice as a self-employed artist. Additionally, part-time work provided structure and stability during the early stages of my career, when uncertainty and self-doubt were common. Having a steady schedule and regular social interaction often brought fresh perspectives that helped me reengage with my art.

Now, as a full-time artist living in the United States, I dedicate most of my time to creative work. After over a decade of practice, I feel that my career is beginning to gain momentum, with more opportunities to exhibit and share my work. However, balancing creative time with administrative responsibilities, such as preparing applications and navigating English-language processes, remains a challenge. Even so, I am continually inspired by new ideas and remain committed to finding ways to bring them to life.
At this stage, I feel fortunate to focus fully on my art and share my work with others. The ability to express my vision and connect with people through my creations brings a sense of fulfillment that I find both meaningful and rewarding.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a painter exploring the essence of life by examining the invisible forces that shape our existence, bringing them into visual form through traditional Japanese mineral pigments.

Growing up with biologist parents, I was immersed in the mysteries of life from an early age, profoundly influenced by its depth and complexity. At times, I found myself overwhelmed by the presence of unseen entities—whether they were spirits of the departed or subtle energies surrounding me. Yet, I couldn’t ignore their existence. Creating art became my way of confronting and understanding these phenomena.

My artistic development has been deeply shaped by my studies in Japanese painting and Butoh dance. While attending Kyoto City University of Arts, I learned the importance of taking time to observe and face the subject matter with serenity, an essential practice in Japanese painting that begins with careful sketching.
My early ballet training heightened my awareness of physicality, which later led me to explore Butoh—a contemporary Japanese dance form that views the body as inherently connected to the phenomena of life. This perspective has deeply influenced my creative process. Before the pandemic, I performed as a contemporary dancer and placed great importance on practices like meditation and yoga. These practices have remained integral to my artistic practice, allowing me to value time spent gaining insights into the relationship between this world and humanity through my body.

In the past, I participated in a project to renovate a traditional Japanese house (“kohnoie” by Tada Masaharu & Kinki University), creating symbolic sliding door paintings inspired by the local natural environment and geology. Furthermore, I participated as an invited artist for three years in an exhibition project showcasing works in the guest rooms of Hotel Granvia Osaka, located at the gateway to Osaka. Additionally, I have actively collaborated with artists from other fields, exploring new aspects of my work and the potential for sensory dialogue. Between 2020 and 2022, I collaborated with installation artist Hiroki Doi on the Nureta Jizoh PROJECT, creating photographic works that combine painting and spatial elements. Another transformative experience was my time at an artist residency in Nara (“ASUKA Art Village 2017” by General Foundation Asuka Village), where I delved into the question, ‘What is a departed soul?’ This exploration led to a body of work focused on graveyards and the ways in which they reflect my understanding of life and death.

In the past year, I have challenged myself to deepen my exploration of the essence of life through more traditional Asian motifs such as landscapes, the moon, and flowers. These subjects were often seen by ancient Asian artists not just as natural elements, but as spiritual and metaphysical representations. Through their paintings, they sought to integrate and refine their souls with the natural world. Now, I am beginning to engage with these traditional subjects in my own way, seeking to uncover their deeper connections to the themes I explore.

The pebble-like round aggregates and natural landscapes often depicted in my paintings symbolize the coexistence of life and death, portraying how life manifests and progresses in this world. These expressions aim to evoke a sense of mindfulness, encouraging viewers to reflect on the richness of human existence and the meaning of being alive.

Interestingly, many who own my work choose to display it not in relaxing spaces like bedrooms or living rooms, but in workspaces such as offices. These environments require a delicate balance of focus and calm. The energy expressed in my paintings seems to resonate as a source of motivation rather than pure relaxation. One collector once shared, “I feel as though this painting watches over me as I work.”

As humans, we live amidst the constant push and pull of uncertainty—whether it’s fear of change, restlessness from monotony, or apprehension about aging and identity. Yet, I believe the essence of life lies in its perpetual transformation. It is this impermanence, this fleeting nature of existence, that makes it so profoundly beautiful and precious. As long as we hold this insight, we can always observe the world with fresh eyes and continue to deepen our understanding. I believe such a perspective can infuse our daily lives and work with vitality and purpose. I hope that even a fragment of this can be shared with more people, and with this goal in mind, I dedicate myself to my creative process every day.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

When engaging with an artist and finding them difficult to understand, I would suggest focusing not on their “purpose for working” but on their “purpose for living.” In my view, art is not merely a task for artists—it is often a record of their life.

Artists can sometimes seem paradoxical. They may say their work is more than a hobby, yet it often lacks financial viability. They dedicate immense time, effort, and money to their craft, even when it doesn’t sell, and continue creating without external demand. I feel this dedication, which often defies conventional values of measurable success and efficiency, can make their motivations hard to grasp.

Additionally, artists don’t just create—they often seek to share their work with others. This leads me to wonder: Why is being seen so important to them? What fuels their desire for recognition? I think these questions often point to something deeper: their purpose for living, which seems to shape both their art and their actions.

As children, many of us immersed ourselves in activities purely for the joy of it, without needing external validation. But as adults, most people seem to find motivation in fulfilling social roles or meeting others’ expectations. Whether working as employees, freelancers, or caregivers, this dynamic feels almost universal. Artists, however, often operate outside this framework. In my experience, many—including myself—continue creating regardless of external validation or sales, because our work stems from an intrinsic drive. I imagine that even for the few artists whose work achieves financial success, their journey likely began with a compulsion that went beyond mere demand or recognition.

I think what fuels this drive varies from artist to artist. For most, though, creating feels like more than leisure or work—it becomes a way of being, a means to explore and reflect on life itself.

If you ever feel drawn to a particular artwork, I would encourage you to ask the artist about their intentions behind creating it. In my experience, hearing their perspective can sometimes help you understand why the piece resonates with you. This process might also reveal something about your own thoughts or desires.I often think that artwork acts as a mirror for the viewer, reflecting their inner world in unexpected ways.

To me, this mutual impact between artist and viewer is what makes art so fascinating. It transforms a solitary act of creation into a shared, meaningful experience.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

At the heart of my creative journey lies the mission to remind people that life is precious and to inspire a deeper reflection on its meaning through my art. This ultimate message—’life is precious’—is something we often refrain from saying aloud as we grow older. I believe this happens because we spend less time reflecting deeply on our emotions—on why we feel fear, sadness, or joy.

Of course, we live within the framework of societal and financial obligations, which makes it difficult to cherish something wholeheartedly and simply. Often, suppressing our emotions and prioritizing calm, logical decisions seems like an easier way to navigate life. Accepting this reality, I have chosen to live as someone who continues to share and uphold the belief that “life is precious.”

I believe that most people, while acknowledging that human society is complex and imperfect, still hold within their hearts the understanding that life and peace are inherently valuable. This is why I think it is vital for individuals like myself to exist in society, to remind us of these values and prevent humanity from losing its way entirely. For this reason, I continue to explore the essence of human existence and share these reflections through my creations.

In a way, the ability to embrace this perspective is a privilege of being an artist. Artists have the unique freedom to remain independent from societal structures and values, allowing them to continually express their own viewpoints. Delivering messages like this feels like a responsibility that comes with being an artist.

Humans can sometimes be frustratingly foolish and cruel, but despite this, I persist in affirming and celebrating the richness of human existence. This is because there is indeed an organic power unique to humanity on the Earth. Lately, there has been much discussion about whether humans can compete with AI. I believe the answer lies here. For instance, humans alone possess the ability to recognize and appreciate the beauty of nature. Why is that? My work invites people to ponder such questions. I believe that the role of an artist is to create an entry point for others to continue thinking and questioning.

My Butoh dance mentor, Masami Yurabe, taught me that the human, animal, plant, and mineral realms do not exist in a hierarchical pyramid but are on equal footing. Among these realms, humans alone have the ability to access the deeper layers of each. This idea has been a profound source of support for my mission as an artist: to continuously affirm the depth of human experience.

Every time a piece I create is appreciated or finds its way into someone else’s hands, I feel as though the world has been enlivened, if only slightly. My work serves as a bridge, connecting me with people who share a similar perspective on life. Meeting such individuals and working toward improving the human world are why I will continue to create and present art for the rest of my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.moekomachida.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moeko_machida/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moekomachida.m.m
• Other: Journal: https://www.moekomachida.com/blog

Image Credits

Nureta Jizoh PROJECT, Hiroki Doi, Matsumura Kohei, Moeko MACHIDA