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A Japanese Traditional Technique Encountered in Singapore — May It Blossom into Contemporary Art－Kumiko Matsushima(Artist, Art Resilience Director)
How It All Began in Singapore
Q：What was your initial culture shock of arriving in Singapore and the decisive moment when you began to regard Singapore as your own?
It came as a surprise to me that, in Singapore, Dependant’s Pass holders could not work unless they started a company or sole proprietorship. Before moving to Singapore, art was essentially an extension of my hobby.
When I learned that I would have to start my own business in order to work in Singapore, I decided to fully commit to my art. Looking back, it was that decision that led me to become a full-time artist. I have participated in 30 group shows and 3 solo shows since I moved to Singapore. Now I am an active member of Singapore’s artist community.
Your Creative Philosophy and What Sets Your Work Apart
Q：What do you value most in your art-making process, and what distinguishes your work from others?
Over the past 25 years, my life has taken me from Tokyo to Monterey, New York, Hong Kong, and Singapore. These cross-cultural experiences, together with my professional background in Japanese-English interpretation and translation, marketing, journalism, and the music industry, have shaped my artistic vision and continue to inspire my work.
While living in New York, I struggled with neurotic depression. One day, I felt an inexplicable urge to paint, and through painting, I experienced the healing power of art firsthand. Having never received any formal art training in Japan, the experience felt almost miraculous.
Art became my lifeline. Inspired by my own journey, I now teach therapeutic art and Kintsugi, and have recently begun giving lectures on the transformative power of art.
Your Future Aspirations
Q： How would you like to contribute to the relationship between Singapore and Japan through your art?
One of my paintings has been selected for the cover of a book on Kintsugi, which will be published this autumn. The first sculpture I ever created was found cracked, and after encountering Kintsugi in Singapore, I restored it using a simplified Kintsugi technique. That restored work later received an award. I was deeply inspired by the philosophy of Kintsugi—that rather than hiding scars, we can embrace them as part of our beauty and strength. Since then, I have been creating contemporary works inspired by Kintsugi, while also teaching therapeutic art and Kintsugi workshops.
As a depression survivor, I hope my work can offer encouragement and healing to people struggling with depression or social withdrawal. Looking ahead, I hope to expand opportunities for meaningful collaborations, such as book projects, and to help continue building cultural bridges between Japan and Singapore. In February next year, I plan to organize a group exhibition celebrating the cultural connections between the two countries.
What I Love About Singapore!
Q：What do you think is most impressive about Singapore’s culture and the way the city functions?
I was deeply touched by how warmly Singapore’s art community welcomed me, despite my being a foreign artist. Thanks to their support, I was soon able to exhibit my work in local galleries. Although establishing my own sole proprietorship was initially challenging, it unexpectedly became a turning point in my life. It gave me the opportunity to fully commit to my artistic career and become a full-time artist—something I am truly grateful for.
Interviewee Profile
Kumiko Matsushima
Artist, Art Resilience Director
Born in Tokyo, Graduated from Waseda University with a degree in Political Science and Economics before earning an MBA. After a career at Cartier and working as a bilingual voice-over artist and translator, she discovered her calling as an artist in New York and graduated from Pratt Institute with Highest Honors. Relocated to Singapore in 2021, encountered with Kintsugi and became a full-time artist. Her work has received many awards and has been collected in the UK, France, USA, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan.
| ■ Kumiko Matsushima, Artist, Art Resilience Director |
| ◉Creates contemporary art, exhibits internationally in solo and group exhibitions, and gives lectures. She organizes and teaches therapeutic art workshops, including drawing, ink-blowing, and Kintsugi. Her practice also includes commissioned projects for museums and book covers, and she has recently expanded into wearable art. 📩E-mail：kumikomatsushima333@gmail.com 🌐Website 📲X |
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