In a World of Make believe

INTERVIEW

In a World of Make believe

Yukari Sato

INTERVIEW

In a World of Make believe

20.07.2026

Yukari Sato

Writer

Arttaca

Japanese artist Yukari Sato’s world is replete with the quirks and antics of her fictional characters. “Uncle Horton, Former chief of the Muura village police force. Retired but still full of energy. “ A bit noisy...” reads one of the captions of an animated drawing on her Instagram. Her style is unique and resembles a sketchbook of fantasy fiction stories, which are both light-hearted and distinctive. In an interview with the artist, we learn more:

ZA :

Did you always see yourself as an artist? Could you talk about your inspirations and if they were particularly related to other artists? Or are you moved by other forms of expression too?

YS :

I don't really see myself as an artist. I'm an introvert and I process my emotions very slowly, so I draw pictures to sublimate the thoughts and emotions that have accumulated in my mind over time. I am truly moved by the freedom, power, and beauty of children's drawings and Art Brut- a term coined in 1945 by the French artist Jean Dubuffet (1901-85) to refer to art made by individuals working outside of the established cultural mainstream.

ZA :

Could you delve into your process of creation? What does a day of drawing look like for you?

YS :

When I want to organize my mind, I close my eyes and begin to focus. Then, the drawing begins. I feel like the thoughts and feelings I keep inside are too strong to put into words, so I transform them into colours and shapes in my head. All my emotions, including the negative ones, take form in an independent creature on my canvas. For me, drawing is akin to therapy.

ZA:. Are your characters based off situations in your daily life? How do you arrive at their form?

YS: As a graphic designer, I used to vaguely doodle. One day, my mentor and art director, Mr. Sakota, spotted them, and he suggested that I give each character a name and a personality type. That’s when I created the foundation for my work Muura Village. The characters were born from absurd and humorous conversations with him. While some of the characters' personalities are reflective of me, others are created based off my observations with the world.

ZA :

You mention that Friends of Muura Village is a place filled with fictional characters. Could you describe the story behind it?

YS :

My characters in the village don’t communicate with one another, but I place a great deal of importance on their co-existence despite being of different shapes, characteristics, and personalities. They appreciate one another’s positive aspects, and accept one another despite their shortcomings.

ZA :

What are your thoughts on the changing forms of art and the presence of AI in affecting an artist’s work?

YS :

I am concerned that the ‘original’ will no longer be ‘original,’ and that will risk the dignity of artists. However, I also believe that AI technology has the advantage of expanding our creative possibilities. Additionally, as our society rapidly becomes AI-based, I believe that exchanging value with buyers through the sale and purchase of “real things" created by artists will become more valuable than ever before.