“Who Am I ?” by TOMOKO

1. Project Overview

“Who Am I?” by TOMOKO, initiated by artist TOMOKO, is a mental health*1 art project aimed at highlighting the importance of mental dialogue (self-dialogue)*2 and the unseen value of the heart through various art forms. This project conveys these concepts through diverse mediums such as videos, photographs, writings, and music.

The works, inspired by TOMOKO’s experiences and inner emotions, are shared through various platforms including art exhibitions, social media campaigns, and video distributions. For instance, the ‘100 Women’ series portrays the stories of 100 women through poetry, video, and photography, while other works explore themes of light and shadow inspired by nature. These interactions aim to normalize discussions about mental health, making it as common a topic as physical health.

By integrating mental health education into school curricula, the project aims to help children understand the importance of mental health from an early age and develop daily self-care habits. Additionally, it strives to create a supportive society where individuals can receive necessary aid, including consultations with mental health professionals, counseling sessions, and participation in support groups.

We plan to organize online and in-person group discussions, art retreats, and workshops.

We plan to organize online and in-person group discussions, art retreats*3,and workshops.

Our goal is to expand mental health care options, fostering a community where no one has to bear pain or anxiety alone.

We utilize art as a powerful tool to help individuals listen to their inner voice, deepen self-understanding, release inner emotions, and discover means of self-expression. This is achieved through various workshops, exhibitions, and online platforms that encourage participants to engage in creative activities like poetry, video production, and visual arts.

*1 Mental Health: The state of emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

2. Personal Background and Project Beginnings

“Who Am I?” by TOMOKO is an art project born from my profound childhood anxieties, pain, and ongoing battles with mental health.

My life revolves around two pillars: art and words. With heightened sensitivity, I often felt the world’s and others’ pain deeply. Art and words became my solace and means of self-expression, guiding me towards mental dialogue (self-dialogue).

From a young age, I struggled with atopic dermatitis and allergies. These conditions were exacerbated by mental health issues, creating a vicious cycle. In this context, skincare and makeup became essential self-care*4practices, helping me maintain peace of mind. Self-care, for me, was not merely about beauty; it was a vital process supporting my mental and physical health.

This experience led me to study skincare and makeup. By sharing the comfort and healing I found through self-care, I hoped to help others suffering similarly. Additionally, I believed that acquiring knowledge and skills in makeup would enable my work to convey deeper and more multifaceted messages.

Inspired by my grandfather, a doctor, I initially considered a career in medicine. However, I ultimately chose the path of an artist. Using “art and words” that had saved me, I felt a strong calling to do something only I could do. My grandfather’s influence and my own experiences fostered my interest in mental health and passion for art. This decision profoundly changed my life.

A global tragedy during my elementary school years brought me deep sorrow and made me realize the necessity of understanding and caring for people from diverse backgrounds. This event made me think deeply about the importance of mental health. Additionally, experiencing bullying in middle school left me feeling out of place both at home and at school. I participated in a speech contest with the theme “Bullying and War,” where I emphasized the importance of respecting diversity and understanding others, recognizing individual values, and fostering a culture of empathy as the first step toward world peace. This belief continues through “Who Am I?” by TOMOKO. This experience highlighted the significant impact mental health issues have on our daily lives and society as a whole.

3. Experiences in New York and Their Impact

While studying in New York, I attended a school on Wall Street and visited the 9/11 memorial site almost daily. Each encounter with people shedding tears, touching the inscribed names, and experiencing emotional moments at the memorial filled me with overwhelming sadness and a sense of helplessness, leaving a profound impact on me.

Additionally, daily conversations with friends from various nationalities deepened my understanding of our diverse life perspectives and mental health. These dialogues helped me rediscover the reasons behind the suffocating feelings I had experienced in Japan and guided me in listening to my true “inner voice,” understanding who I am, what I desire, and where I want to go.

These experiences were the decisive reasons for launching “Who Am I?” by TOMOKO and solidified my determination to create a community of dialogue through art.

My works embody the experiences, emotions, and thoughts from my life’s journey. By sharing these works, I hope to connect with the hearts of people who are feeling lonely, in pain, and struggling, reassuring them that they are not alone.

4. Self-Care and Mental Health

My journey with mental health has often been isolating and challenging. Initial treatment methods did not provide the support I needed, leaving me feeling unsure and lost. Despite trying to address these issues, the lack of options and overwhelming feelings of isolation and fear made me feel abandoned by society.

However, engaging with various artworks allowed me to connect emotionally with the creators and their works, sparking my mental dialogue (self-reflection). Questioning who I am, what I desire, and where I want to go became a part of my daily routine. These experiences reinforced the power and potential of art, helping me discover new ways to express my emotions. Creative activities brought me true liberation and significant healing.

Additionally, I value keeping a daily journal and practicing meditation, which are valuable tools for facilitating mental dialogue (self-reflection). Other activities include creating art, nature walks, traveling, playing musical instruments, dancing, reading, yoga, cooking, and gardening. These activities enrich the mind and help you listen to your inner voice.

Examples of Evidence-Based Self-Care*5

• Affirmations:
  Each morning, smile at yourself in the mirror and say, “I am worthy.” This practice boosts self-esteem.
• Gratitude Journal:
  Write down three things you are grateful for each morning and evening. This practice reinforces positive thinking and effortlessly expresses gratitude.
• Naming Emotions:
  Write down your feelings and name them. Visualizing emotions makes it easier to find suitable approaches for addressing them.
• Breathing Techniques (Meditation):
  Take deep breaths and tell yourself to “focus on this moment.” This practice reduces stress and helps regain calm.
• Timeout Technique:
  When overwhelmed by stress, anger, or negative emotions, take a five-minute break, breathing deeply to calm down.

5. “100 Women” Series

Currently, I am working on the “100 Women” series. This series portrays the stories of mental dialogue (self-reflection) of 100 women through poetry, video, and photography. Although each story is fictional, they are inspired by dialogues and interviews with each woman, meticulously weaving together their emotions and thoughts.

This series illustrates individual heart stories, and collectively, it forms a tapestry that reflects various emotions and experiences from around the world. Each piece is like a note in a symphony, and viewing them together feels like a mosaic art of a single human heart.

In 2021, I exhibited part of this series at the ABG Gallery in Tokyo. Under the theme “What do you imagine without colors? What do you imagine in a world overwhelmed with information?”, I engaged in deep conversations with visitors, gaining much inspiration.

The monochrome photos printed on canvas included QR codes linking to online displays of poetry and videos. Scanning the QR code triggered instrumental-backed videos synced with the poetry.

These works ask the question, “What do you imagine in a world overwhelmed with information?”, inviting visitors to enjoy the transition from monochrome photos to color videos, reflecting on their own thoughts and emotions. I aim to convey the importance and joy of thinking and imagining beyond preconceived notions based on information and knowledge.

Visitors were encouraged to bring their smartphones and earphones, allowing them to enjoy the instrumental-backed videos while listening to the sound of heartbeats (heart sounds) in the background. This setup provided an environment for mental dialogue (self-reflection) and meditation.

Additionally, in a space descending from the main exhibition area, I projected images of the sea, sky, and earth on the walls, creating a relaxing environment for visitors to engage in mental dialogue (self-reflection) and meditation.

At the opening event, I showcased the project’s musical piece “Who Am I?” and its music video, enjoying meaningful time with the visitors.

6. Music Projects

At 15, I wrote a poem that later became the foundation for a musical piece and a music video featuring contemporary dance by a dancer of the same age. This piece tells the story of a girl grappling with her inner light and darkness.

The emotions I experienced at 15 still resonate with me as an adult. The message I wish to convey to my younger self is one that I need to hear even today. I hope this piece, depicting inner conflict through lyrics and dance, will resonate deeply with many people, from teenagers to adults.

You can watch the music video on my YouTube channel, and the song is available on various music streaming platforms.

7. Poetry and Photography

Many of my art pieces focus on themes of light and shadow, inspiration drawn from nature, and reflections on daily life. These poems and photographs were created and captured in various locations and moments.

For example, here is a poem:

Cloaked in shadows, kissed by beams of light,
“Who might I be?”
Within the veil of darkness, I discover me,
then towards the gleam, my essence I project.
Both the dusk and dawn,
serve as witness to the complexity of my truth.
Where light and shadow blend, there,
I encounter my own soul.

These works are showcased on my website and Instagram, combining poems with photographs or standing alone as poems. Each piece encourages a dialogue between visual and emotional elements, inviting the viewer into deep contemplation. Additionally, I am considering publishing a collection of these poems and photographs in the future.

In this way, projects like “Who Am I?” by TOMOKO encompass a wide range of artistic expressions and engage in various creative endeavors.

8. Self-Love and the Cycle of Love

We grow up in different lands, speak different languages, learn different cultures, and possess various appearances. Despite these visible differences, we share the same Earth, living as one organism with unseen “hearts” that harbor many emotions such as joy, anger, and sadness.

However, throughout history, we have often highlighted these differences, attacking one another and asserting our own righteousness. This has resulted in countless individuals carrying wounds in their hearts, perpetuating endless conflicts. We find ourselves in a cycle of negativity, where we may despise ourselves, others, and the world around us. Consequently, our Earth continues to suffer.

I aim to break this cycle of negativity and replace it with a cycle of love, beginning with self-love*6. Self-love is not selfishness, arrogance, or narcissism. It is about knowing, accepting, and generously loving oneself as we truly are, not as someone else wishes us to be.

When we are filled with self-love, we are better able to extend that love and compassion to others, to all living beings, and to the Earth. This is the cycle of love.

*6 Self-Love: recognizing, loving, and valuing oneself.

9. In Conclusion

Through “Who Am I?” by TOMOKO, our goal is to foster meaningful connections with many people, raise awareness of mental health, and create a positive impact on society.

Every small step you take can contribute significantly to shaping our collective future.

We sincerely hope that you find this initiative engaging and heartfelt, and we look forward to your continued support and involvement.

10. Joining the Journey

Are you ready to join this journey and take some time for self-reflection?

This project is shared in both Japanese, my native language, and English to reach more people around the globe.

In today’s society, where misconceptions and prejudices about mental health still exist, we strive to make mental health as common a topic of daily conversation as physical health.

Moreover, by integrating mental health education into school curricula, we aim to create a society where children understand the importance of mental health from an early age and receive the necessary support. Our goal is to increase the options available for mental health care so that no one has to bear the burden of loneliness and anxiety alone, fostering an environment where everyone can support each other.

Impact of the Project

• Raising Awareness of Mental Health:
  “Who Am I?” by TOMOKO promotes the importance of mental health, encouraging society to understand and support it. Through this project, many people are prompted to consider their own mental health.
• Building Community:
  The project brings together people with shared interests and challenges, forming a supportive community. This helps reduce feelings of loneliness and contributes to improved mental health.
• Promoting Creative Expression:
  We aim to provide spaces like art workshops and exhibitions where participants can freely express their feelings and experiences. Through these events, we’ve communicated the importance of self-expression through art to many attendees. By engaging in creative activities like poetry, video, and photography, participants can explore their inner selves, find ways to express themselves, release their inner emotions, and share their experiences. Art is a powerful means of self-expression, helping many deepen their self-understanding and promote their mental well-being.
• Educational Impact:
  By collaborating with schools and educational institutions, we aim to convey the importance of mental health to younger generations. This offers opportunities for children to develop habits of self-care and mental dialogue (self-reflection) from an early stage.

Specific Activities and Success Stories

• Art Exhibitions:
  In 2021, we held an exhibition at ABG Gallery in Tokyo under the theme “What do you imagine without colors? In an information-overloaded world, what do you imagine?” This deepened our dialogues with many visitors and provided much inspiration.
• Music Production and Music Videos:
  I produced a music video based on a poem I wrote at 15, featuring a contemporary dance by a dancer who was also 15 at the time of filming. This video is available on various music streaming sites and YouTube.
• Short Films and Short Movies Production:
  We’ve produced a total of 25 short films and short movies in the US and Japan, highlighting the importance of mental health through their stories.
• Guest Speaker:
  We have introduced our projects and works, conducted surveys on mental health, and participated as guest speakers.

On our Instagram and YouTube, we continuously share our works and special moments. Please follow, like, and share to help spread our message.

Let’s make more people aware of this project and expand a warm community supporting mental health together. With “Who Am I?” by TOMOKO, find deeper understanding and love for yourself and the world.

11. Request for Support

We warmly welcome your donations to our project. Your contributions will directly support the creation and exhibition of new art pieces, the organization of workshops, and the provision of mental health resources.

Here are the specific ways your donations can be utilized:

• Project Operating Costs:
  Website domain and server maintenance fees, software costs.
• Art Creation:
  Materials and production costs for the 100 Women series and new series exhibitions, equipment costs such as microphones, cameras, lighting, and computers.
• Exhibition Hosting:
  Venue fees, setup costs, and promotional expenses.
• Workshop Organization:
  Operational costs for online and in-person workshops, including venue fees, setup costs, and promotional expenses.
• Mental Health Resources:
  Costs for purchasing and researching materials for mental health-related blog articles, operational costs for workshops and seminars, venue fees, setup costs, and promotional expenses. Additionally, resources for mental health awareness activities and support for implementing counseling sessions by professionals.

Future Impact

With your support, we aim to create significant positive changes. For instance, we plan to organize workshops where participants can share their personal mental health journeys and find solace and support through creative expression. We envision participants saying, “This workshop was a turning point for me. I now feel less alone and more empowered to face my struggles.”

Your support is essential in expanding opportunities for many people to learn about mental health and receive support.

For details on how to participate and support, please visit Ko-fi.

Your participation and support will strengthen and expand our mental health community. Together, let’s create a society where everyone can prioritize and cherish their mental health.

We look forward to your warm support.