URBAN ENVY (Miki Fujiwara)

Living in a society where few of us can be ourselves, or we suffer abuse from the PC Police (...that's Politically Correct Police, AKA, "fake/wannabe" liberals with guilt) and/or conservative fundamentalists, it is a constant struggle to be myself without being labeled something that I am not.

I find that painting is an effective way of getting my point across, yet causes far less hostile and abusive responses. People expect Artists to tell the truth, but do not of average folks. Controversial topics are often taboo at the dinner table, yet uncontroversial art is considered boring. A controversial artist is considered to have an edge, a controversial guy next door is to be avoided. Painting to me was the perfect way to bring two things that are most important in my life: My love for visual arts and my involvement in community activism.

My paintings tell a story, not only the typical story against injustice (which many expect as a woman of color) as I cannot simply become a martyr or romanticize and glorify my sufferings. I take it a step further and deeply scrutinize myself as well as others and call them on their deficiencies.

I mostly paint digitally on my pc using my tablet on Corel Painter, which is an awesome software which mimics traditional painting experience. I recommend it to anyone who is making the switch from traditional media to digital media like I have.

When I'm not using my tablet and Corel Painter, I like painting in acrylic/oil or pounding things out of clay.