March | 2024 | Neocha – Culture & Creativity in Asia

In the vibrant tapestry of contemporary art, few creators weave a narrative as intriguing and provocative as Japanese illustrator and animator Sawako Kabuki (冠木佐和子) whose work dances on the edge of whimsy and taboo. Known for evoking feelings of solace and “tastiness” amidst a backdrop of peace, love, and ass, Sawako’s portfolio is a kaleidoscope of emotions and themes that both captivate and challenge us as viewers.

在生机勃勃丰富多彩的当下艺术圈中，很少有创作者能像日本插画师/动画师 Sawako Kabuki (冠木佐和子) 那样，游离在奇思妙想和禁忌的边缘，编织出引人入胜、耐人寻味的的画面。 Sawako 的作品集以其在和平、爱与“屁股”的背景下唤起慰藉和“趣味”的感觉为特征，它就像一个万花筒般的情绪和主题，让观者既着迷又在接受挑衅。

From an early age, Sawako found inspiration in the realms of sexuality and humor, crafting concepts that seamlessly blend arousing themes with lighthearted elements like “poop” and “pee”, and a lot of butts. However, delving deeper into the psyche behind the art reveals a complexity that transcends mere shock value. While some may interpret the work as a bold statement on female sexuality or empowerment, the artist admits to initially creating with a simpler objective in mind – to craft something that resonates with the impressionable minds of young people: “I’m just trying to create something that kids can get addicted to or be obsessed with. If I can influence kids in a good or bad way during their formative years, then I’d be happy.”

Sawako 从小就在性与幽默中找到灵感，创作出极为挑逗的主题与“便便”、“尿尿”等轻松元素以及大量的屁股无缝融合的概念。然而，深入艺术背后的心理你会发现一种超越单纯猎奇价值的复杂性。虽然有些人可能将她的作品解读为女性性欲或女性赋权的大胆释放，但这位艺术家承认她最初创作时只是抱着一个很简单的目标 -—— 创作一些能轻易与年轻人的思绪产生共鸣的东西：“我只是想创造一些能让年轻朋友上瘾或着迷的东西。如果我能在他们成长过程中以好或坏的方式影响他们，那我就会觉得太开心了。”

Yet, amidst the colorful chaos of her creations lies a poignant reflection on body image and societal norms. Growing up grappling with insecurities about her own physique, Sawako found solace in her art, creating characters with a uniform body shape that mirrored her own struggles with self-acceptance: “I’ve worried about my body shape since I was a little kid. I’m tall in Japan, which I didn’t like when I was younger. When I was chubby, people said I was fat. When I lost weight, people said I was too skinny. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be and what a normal body shape looks like. So, maybe that’s why my characters are all the same uniform body shape.”

然而，在她五彩缤纷的作品之中，还隐藏着对身体形象和社会规范的深刻反思。Sawako 在成长过程中一直为自己的身型而自卑，她在艺术中找到了慰藉，创作了身材匀称的角色，反映着她在自我接纳过程的斗争：“我从小就担心自己的体型。我在日本个子很高，年轻时我很不喜欢。当时我胖乎乎的，人们会说我胖。当我减肥后，人们又说我太瘦了。我不知道自己想变成什么样，也不知道正常的体型应该是什么样。所以，也许这就是为什么我的角色都拥有比较统一匀称体型。”

Drawing inspiration from Japanese graphic designers of the 70s and the bold compositions of Ukiyo-e, the artist’s work is a fusion of tradition and modernity, juxtaposing vibrant colors and contrasts to create visual experiences that linger in the mind. Sawako shares, “Tadanori Yokoo has had a big influence on me.”

艺术家从 70 年代的日本平面设计师和大胆的浮世绘构图中汲取灵感，她的作品融合了传统与现代，将鲜艳的色彩和对比元素相融，创造出令人难忘的视觉体验。Sawako 分享道：“横尾忠则 (Tadanori Yokoo) 对我影响很大。”

Embedded within the intricate details of her illustrations are tiny figures that serve as metaphors for the human condition – cells, bacteria, anonymous individuals, and perhaps, glimpses of Sawako herself. It is through these minuscule characters that she explores the complexities of existence, inviting viewers to contemplate their place in the vast expanse of the universe.

在她错综复杂的插图中嵌入了微小的图形，它们作为人类状况的隐喻 – 细胞、细菌、匿名体，也许还包含着 Sawako 自己的一瞥。正是通过这些微小的角色，她探索了存在的复杂性，让观者思考他们在浩瀚宇宙中的位置。

Rooted in the unique cultural landscape of Japan, Sawako reflects a nuanced understanding of the country’s convoluted relationship with sexuality. While Japanese society may outwardly repress discussions of sexual matters, beneath the surface lies a sometimes distorted and dark eroticism that serves as fertile ground for artistic exploration: “Japan is a country with a very unique sense of sexuality, both in a good and bad ways. Japanese often hide their desires and lust. I think this is what creates so many perverts. I’m glad to be from such a country, and I think it has influenced my work accordingly.”

Sawako 植根于日本独特的文化景观，反映了人们对日本这个国家与性之间复杂关系的细微理解。虽然日本社会表面上可能会压抑关于性问题的讨论，但在表面之下却潜藏着一种扭曲的黑暗色情，为艺术探索提供了沃土：“日本是一个性观念非常独特的国家，有好的一面也有坏的一面。日本人常常隐藏自己的欲望和性欲。我认为这正是造成如此多变态的原因。其实我很高兴来自这样一个国家，我觉得这也充分影响了我的作品。”

Sawako candidly expresses her fascination with sexuality and acknowledges the potential unintended consequences it brings, including instances of sexual harassment from men who misinterpret her intentions. She questions why she receives pictures of genitalia from men but has never received similar images from women. Her pondering delves into the complexities and challenges of navigating sexual expression and the dynamics of gendered communication in contemporary society: “Guys send me pictures of their d^cks all the time…but why has no women ever sent me a picture of her p*ssy?”

Sawako 坦率地表达了她对性欲的迷恋，并承认了它带来的潜在负面影响，包括男性误解她的意图而进行的性骚扰行为。她质疑为什么男性会给她发送生殖器照片，而女性却从来没有送过类似的图片。她的思考深入到了性表达的复杂性和所带来的挑战之中：“男性总是给我发他们臀部的照片……但为什么没有女性发给我她们的小妹妹照片。

Sawako’s work transcends mere artistry, serving as a mirror to the human condition – a reflection of our desires, insecurities, and the intricate collection of emotions and experiences that define us. As we delve into the depths of her creations, we are all invited on a journey of self-discovery, where peace, love, and yes, even ass, converge to create something truly extraordinary.

Sawako 的作品超越了单纯的艺术，成为反映人类状况的镜子 – 映射出我们的欲望、自卑感也定义了我们一系列的复杂情感和经历。当我们深入她的创作历程时，我们都在踏上一段自我发现的旅程，在这里，和平、爱，甚至还有“屁股”齐聚一堂，创造出真正非凡的东西。