Japanese train station turns into bright seascape in the hands of an artist
A local artist finished painting a quaint little train station in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture six years after starting the project, customising nearly the entire structure in colourful swirls.
Using her unique touch to render the town’s natural environment, 36-year-old Yume Matsuo finally completed painting the entire building of West Japan Railway Company (JR West)’s Kii-Arita Station.
“This station has become a very special place for me,” Matsuo said. “I hope many people will come to see the artwork.”
As an aspiring artist who had drawn for many years, Matsuo began her creative activities in earnest in 2015 under the name “Artist: Matsuo” after working as a company employee and at other jobs. She began painting the Kii-Arita Station the following year while participating in Kinokuni Trainart, a JR West art event featuring the Kisei Line.
Matsuo was unfamiliar with Kushimoto but was taken by the beauty of the town’s seascapes while snorkelling. During her dives, she saw colonies of table corals on the seabed in the clear waters and colourful tropical fish swimming gracefully around the coral.
“It was amazing. I didn’t know such scenery existed in Wakayama Prefecture,” Matsuo said.
Matsuo sojourned in the town on four occasions for one month each time until 2021 to paint the station as part of the Trainart event.
The work, titled “E? Konna tokoro ni konna eki?” (What? This station in this place?), turns nearly the entire station – including the ceiling, flooring of the waiting room, platform, and interior and exterior walls – into her canvas.
The paintings feature an abundance of natural scenes, such as the vast ocean and deep green mountains. Using water-based paint in blue and green hues, Matsuo incorporated many motifs featuring her favourite shape: the circle.
Feeling that the work was not quite complete, Matsuo stayed in Kushimoto for about a month from September to finish it, even though the Trainart event ended last year.
“I can finally call it finished,” Matsuo said.
After the work was done, she held live painting performances at Kushimoto Marine Park, which is near the station. Over the course of three weeks, she painted sea creatures and other subjects on a 2x2.5 metre canvas. The painting will be on display until January 31.
“I honed my skills painting [the station],” she said. “I hope [my artwork] will help promote the station as well as the charms of Kushimoto.”
The Japan News
Asia News Network
