Hidenori Mitsue, JP

“How do I process and integrate visual information in my work as an artist? This is a matter of the relationship between interpretation and perception.

We receive visual information through our eyes. When we look at something, we instantly interpret this, to make sense of what it is that we are seeing. However, our own experiences and knowledge influence this interpretation, as does the emotional state we are in at that moment. Little by little, those influences change the course of our process of interpretation. The visual information, combined with those influences, enters this process, and the result is our own personal perception.

When my painting is presented to someone, their impression will probably stem from reading my work through several different aspects. These might entail content that is recognizable or familiar to the viewer, technical aspects of the work or the material characteristics, to name a few. The viewer also interprets what they see through their own experience, knowledge and emotions, which makes their perception a personal, individual experience.

If I carefully consider this phenomenon of looking at the same thing with differing perspectives, I believe I can learn more about the possibilities and power that lie in our interpretation and perception of visual information. This may show me the richness of visual phenomena, and the deep relationship between objectivity and subjectivity. If I could push my limits of understanding a little further, I believe that I could discover what I want to see in my own paintings more precisely. Additionally, it provides me with an opportunity to find new meanings within my work and see what my work is capable of.”

Hidenori Mitsue, born 1969 in Himeji, Japan. Lives and works in The Netherlands