"Flower Child" from APPortfolio x Hikari Shimoda (for Feb 2-Drop)

Introducing "Flower Child" from @apportfolio x @hikarishimoda, with this Special for Valentine’s Day scheduled to drop online via www.apportfolioshop.com from 10AM (Beijing time) on February 2nd, 2021.

Sized 30cm (H) x 26cm (L) x 24cm (D), this pre-painted resin collectible is in a run of 300pcs worldwide, each priced at US$560.

"Since 2017 talented Japanese artist Hikari Shimoda has collaborated many successful projects with APPortfolio. Her significant style has been loved and pursued by many. 2021 Hikari Shimoda is now releasing a complete brand new artwork with APPortfolio.

To celebrate the coming Valentine’s day, Hikari Shimoda will launch her latest art piece called “Flower Child” with APPortfolio. The newest art figurine with detail and colorful hydrangea flowers, is a 3D presentation of the original painting “Flower Child” she made in 2017 that shows the consistent creative style of the artist. In this art sculpture we see warmness and sweetness. The figurine is going to release on February 2th, 2021 and ready to ship out before Valentine’s day as a sweet and memorable gift."

What was the original intention of "Flower Child"?
"The original oil painting "Flower Child" was painted in 2017. By drawing flowers and children, I drew a child wearing hydrangea. Hydrangea flowers have a variety of meanings and it seems to express human complexity. It is a figure of a child standing forward, facing her inner complexity."

Do you think you are following the trend of contemporary art development or out of the trend? Why?
"My art style is in part inspired by the manga and anime style that I grew up with, which is trendy now, but I am not a trendy artist. My characters have a deeper meaning than that. They exist beyond the realm of being children, and identify with anyone who might appreciate them. Those children who are wearing a vacant expression of despair and solitude are mirroring the emotions of the people who look at them. Those vacant children are, so to speak, “cups of my emotions”- something which I could pour my emotion into."

What do you think young artists should pay attention to most in the current art market environment?
"I think young artists should first look inside of themselves and find their feelings. My own work is revealing problems and struggles in contemporary society, and expressing my own feelings about that, not so much focusing on the current art market."

Through these works, what do you hope to bring to the audience?
"In 2020, many problems and issues, such as social injustice, which the world has ignored for a long time, have been brought to light. My latest works are a glimpse of the world from my own point of view; to respect one another’s souls, and affirm our existence, free from judgment. It’s a message to the world from deep inside of my heart."

I see you are working on some new style on painting, are there any new idea behind?
"Throughout my works in 2020, the emotions of anxiety and loneliness are expressed more strongly. I feel that these are feelings surrounding the pandemic that are surfacing around the world. For instance, "Portrait of a Modern Person Wearing a Mask"; expresses that there are people who convey their intentions and opinions, even if their voices are blocked by wearing a mask, an image that has become prevalent due to the pandemic."