ACADEMIC: がんばれ

がんばれ

For a university class, in which we made something visually symbolic. I made a physical piece to match a written piece. I used puffy paints, washi tape, acrylic markers, decodens, and a paint board. The theme is "sweet depression".

がんばれ

The boy smiles. Again his efforts paid off. Reaching the top of his class, the only one with a perfect score.

がんばれ

The girl stands motionless, alone in her despair despite the others around her. They talk about the latest gossip. She listens but does not hear.

がんばれ

The teacher repeats his chant to his students. Final exams are approaching. Then come spring, a new school year will begin. Then entrance exams.

がんばれ

Living each day in accordance with an assigned routine. Is it his or theirs? Everyday he comes home, mother greets him with the usual, "welcome home!" And "how was school?". He's the perfect son, isn't he?

At 18 years-old he has his own car and driver's license before any of his peers. The train schedule is foreign to him.

His father returns late from work. "Welcome home!", his mother repeats. Is it her or is it her expectation?

Will this be his life?

がんばれ

She struggles in her studies, though her bubbly persona makes up for it. She's well-liked amongst her peers, alive. Though her emotions are dead. She is surrounded yet lonely. Her friends must secretly hate her. Perhaps her assertiveness to approach people first is annoying.

Her mother scolds her when she comes home late. Yet she doesn't care. Why does it matter? Her life will be dictated by those around her, why not enjoy it all now?

If it can be.

がんばれ

He is secretly emotional. He hides his pain behind a carefree facade. He's friendly, he's a good person, but he's not. His generosity is his motive. Yet he craves the same thing.

Wanting is selfish. He cannot want. He can only give. Even if it hurts, he will give.

がんばれ

It's a dog eat dog world. She only has herself. Those around her despise her and she will despise them in turn. Yes, their kindness is superficial. No one could ever want her.

Giving is foolish. She cannot give. She can only take. That's what it means to survive a meaningless existence.

がんばれ

He dreams for the first time. It's vivid, yet he does not remember. But it gave him something. He took. And he smiled.

がんばれ

Her dreams are devoid of feeling, but she feels content. Perhaps her dream went to someone else. She doesn't experience loss, but satisfaction. She gave. And she smiled.

がんばれ

Maybe it's okay. He will cry today. And he will take. Maybe it's okay.

がんばれ

Maybe it's okay. She'll finally scream into the abyss like she's always wanted. And after that, she will give. Maybe it's okay.

がんばれ

A new day comes. Perhaps there is another chance. They just need a change.

He will walk to school.

She will walk to school.

がんばれ

She speaks first.

"GOOD MORNING!!", She screams.

The boy laughs. For the first time, he laughs.

"Good morning!" He replies.

For the first time, she speaks first. She gives. For the first time, he is greeted first. He took.

And it felt great.

お疲れ様

がんばれ = Do your best

お疲れ様 = Great job

Original artist statement (2021):

     I've been going through depression lately and honestly things just haven't been going well for me mentally. COVID's rampaging, I feel like I'm not going anywhere, I have motivation but not the energy to do anything, a lot of people I know are refusing the vaccine and contributing to the overall problem, and I overall just feel hopeless. I hope that through this project, I'm able to get some of that out in a productive manner. 

               I did two things for this project: a visual piece and a story. On one side, you have a cutesy yet twisted aesthetic, and on the other, pure darkness and emptiness. That saying, がんばれ is being overtaken by that dark emptiness. No matter how much you press forward, that depression stays with you. The middle mask looks like a Kabuki mask, which was commonly worn by performers back in ancient Japan for plays. While wearing it, the person in question became something else. The facial structure is reminiscent to that of Louis Wain's cats he drew later in life, when his untreated schizophrenia began to take over his life. 

              The story is told from two different people's perspectives. It takes place in Japan, which is infamous for it's undiagnosed mental illnesses. Different people deal with depression differently. The boy is shy and tries to put up a front of a perfect person, he's a giver by nature, but it takes its toll on him. The girl is confident and a carefree attitude, but she feels vulnerable and has to be the center of everything, or else she'll be disregarded or forgotten. She takes, but all of that excess energy takes a toll on her mental state. 

              I'd like to think the two characters meet and begin a relationship of their own. Whether it becomes platonic or romantic, is up to the reader.