Yuiko Uto - The creator of the "mono-katari.com" logo

I met Yuiko through a customer here at my store, Kazuyo’s Collection. I immediately admired her art, which displays insights into and outwardly expressions of humanity. 

When I began planning our website, mono-katari.com, I pondered its goal or mission. I thought of how I love to share with customers my knowledge of the art, the context and background of the artist, and the time and space in which the piece was created. A word for this is “mono-katari,” which translates to “telling a story.” 

Our vision for “mono-katari” is embodied in this site. It weaves stories of art, humanity and the daily life, the rise of the sun and the setting of the moon.  It is a space in which older tales such as the nursery story “Take-tori mono-katari,” or “The tale of the Bamboo cutter” are remembered. 

Yuiko created the mono-katari.com logo based on our discussion about our mission and visions for this website. I thank Yuiko-san for capturing the essence of the vision, “mono-katari.”  

Yuiko Uto @buttonsink

I’m Yuiko, an artist, illustrator and graphic designer based in Brisbane.

I draw unique character’s faces and figures inspired by my own personal emotions.

Making image is like projecting something that I can’t express in words. It is very powerful, like music to me, where I’m able to release into the world what gives me absolute comfort and happiness.

When I was little, I was a very quiet child. I was able to be myself at home but I couldn’t talk or express myself at all in particular places or situations outside home. 

I remember the first excitement of drawing was when my mother taught me how to draw a star with a single stroke on a hand-me-down ‘Sensei’ (magnetic drawing board). Since then, the sense of achievement to be able to draw the lines that make me feel comfortable is still the main part of my expression and desire.

I often feel that artworks are living things. They happen to be made at particular time in the environment just like us creatures on this planet. They can be a coincidence, can be inevitable, either way, therefore it’s precious.

I love to see people enjoy and see my artwork aligned with their view. That also makes me happy as it gives me the sense that I get to connected to this world:)