My Story

On this page, I'd like to share something a little personal.

Some people might find this offensive.

Nevertheless, I would be happy if I could convey even a little bit of why I came to want to "wear art."

I developed autonomic nervous system dysfunction when I was in my third year of high school, around the time I started thinking about my future career path.

Specifically, I developed symptoms where I couldn't hold my urine, and I couldn't properly attend 50-minute classes. I spent most of the latter half of my third year of high school in the nurse's office.

I still clearly remember how I couldn't take the express train when I went to the hospital, and how I worried my mother.

At the time, I genuinely believed that if things continued this way, I wouldn't be able to go to university, get a job, or even be able to connect with society.

(Looking back now, I think my fear of entering society was simply manifesting itself as a symptom.)

I managed to attend school by taking medication, but I was constantly in a daze, and my consciousness felt distant.

Realizing that "things can't continue like this," I began to re-evaluate my life and came to think, "I want to become someone who can create something."

At that moment, for some reason, Michelangelo's Pietà suddenly came to mind.

I wasn't particularly knowledgeable about art back then, and I don't even remember where I saw that statue.

However, I instinctively felt that "if I become a sculptor, I can surely create something universal," so I went to visit a nearby art preparatory school and started attending it right away.

After that, I failed the university entrance exam three times, causing a lot of trouble for those around me. However, when I spent about two years attending a cram school and seriously dedicating myself to plaster cast drawing and clay modeling, I realized that the symptoms of my autonomic nervous system disorder had naturally disappeared.

It might sound exaggerated, but for me, it was an experience where art saved me.

After that, I went on to art college, where I was blessed with good friends and spent fulfilling time immersed in creating artwork. After graduation, I continued my artistic work for another two years as a research student.

During the summer of my second year as a research student, my father's illness worsened, and I was told, "We can no longer provide any further support, so we need you to start working immediately." Strangely, however, at that time, I felt absolutely no fear of entering the workforce.

I believe that my activities through art were what connected me to society.

After that, I was fortunate enough to get a job at an IT company and spent my days immersed in work, but deep down, I always had a desire to be involved with art.

A few years later, an embroidered shirt with art motifsbrutaThis happened when I was traveling in Australia wearing (currently on hiatus) merchandise.

A local person approached me and said, "That's a very nice shirt. It's Botticelli's 'The Birth of Venus,' isn't it? I love that painting too."

—Clothing sparks conversations about art—

That experience deeply moved me, and the desire to create art-themed clothing myself was the starting point for OUR ART.

When I actually created and wore clothes with an art theme, they felt like a lucky charm that inspired me, and they also became a way to initiate communication with others.

Before I knew it, wearing art had become an indispensable part of my life.

It's no exaggeration to say that I feel a natural surge of energy when I wear art.

This is why I wear art, and it's the driving force behind continuing OUR ART.

With the desire to give back to art in some small way, I immerse myself in art every day and transform it into clothing.

These are my honest feelings, though my words may be inadequate.

Finally, nothing would make us happier than if everyone who purchased OUR ART could find the joy of wearing their own unique artwork.

"ART → OUR ART」

Ritsu Arai