The Dancer of Barcelona

My name is Takuya-Inoue-Higa. I usually go by the name Takuya Inoue, but I am also proud of my Okinawan roots and my mother’s maiden name, Higa, which I now use together as my artist name. I have been diagnosed with ADHD, ASD, and schizophrenia, and I have also experienced bipolar disorder. I have walked a difficult path in life in my own way, but three years ago, at the age of 36, I encountered the world of painting. Since then, I have been self-taught and continue to create my work to this day. My artistic style mainly consists of abstract paintings filled with messages such as sorrow, loneliness, pain, passion, philosophy, hope, and love. I paint almost every day. In particular, I draw inspiration from music, weaving the messages that rise up within me into my paintings as I work. I hope to continue creating many works and, whenever opportunities arise, to exchange and exhibit new paintings with others. Thank you very much for your support. I was born with ADHD and ASD, and I developed schizophrenia during my high school years. Since then, I have struggled with interpersonal relationships, finding it difficult to understand social conventions and unspoken cues, and to trust others. Loneliness has been a constant presence in my life. Even now, I continue to live while facing auditory hallucinations and persecutory delusions. Still, I am able to feel moments of happiness in my own way. Through reading and physical exercise, I consciously support myself with reason, knowledge, and physical strength. At the age of 21, I was fortunate to study abroad in Canada, where I was able to learn English and encounter different cultures. This experience of engaging with diverse values and expressions remains deeply meaningful to me. However, due to difficulties in interpersonal relationships, I eventually returned to Japan. After that, I moved to Tokyo and studied acting and voice training, learning forms of expression rooted in the body and emotion. These experiences have become a solid foundation for my current painting practice. Around the age of 27, my health declined and I returned to Okinawa. For approximately eight years thereafter, I attempted to reintegrate into society through employment support programs, repeatedly entering and leaving jobs. During this time, I continued to search for a place where I belonged and for a form of expression that was truly my own. I encountered the world of painting at the age of 36, after learning about disability art through YouTube. From that point on, I began creating artworks in a largely self-taught manner. I initially started with F3-sized canvases from a local dollar store, and over time, my practice has expanded to continuous production on B3-sized watercolor paper. My creative process is strongly influenced by music. I repeatedly listen to the same piece through headphones while painting, allowing images, emotions, and messages that naturally arise to emerge on the surface. As I work, I seek coherence between these inner voices and the visual expression, gradually shaping the final piece. I intend to continue painting and to challenge myself with larger-scale works in the future. I also hope to sustain my life through the sale of my art. If my work can resonate with someone, even in a small way, I would be deeply grateful. Thank you very much for your support.