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Japanese comic artist Maki Shimizu inspires Wolgaster students
Maki Shimizu inspires students in Wolgast with a comic workshop. Draw dreams and inspire future artists!
Japanese comic artist Maki Shimizu inspires Wolgaster students
A touch of Japan blew through the Kosegarten Regional School in Wolgast on October 10th when the talented comic artist Maki Shimizu welcomed the students. The young artists were able to capture their dreams on paper during a workshop and received valuable suggestions from the experienced illustrator.
Class 6c began reading their books and looking at Shimizu's impressive characters, including her popular cat Adagio. This tomcat experiences the small and large adventures of everyday life with his superpowers. Shimizu inspired students to draw their own dreams creatively and vividly. Ideas ranged from a table tennis career to a desire to learn math to a dream of building a house for the homeless.
Collective works and individual dreams
A particular highlight was when student Jaycee drew a Simson, which led to a challenging collaborative work with Shimizu. The students expressed their wish that the artist would come to their school more often, and they were immediately applauded for her enthusiasm.
Maki Shimizu, born in Tokyo in 1981, shared her personal journey with the students. After studying art in Japan, she went on an adventurous trip through Germany with a sleeping bag and a sketchpad. After three months in a youth hostel, she returned to her home country to complete her studies. She completed her graphic design studies in Bielefeld and began her career in the Berlin comic scene, where she discovered her love for comic drawing.
A look at Shimizu's artistic career
Shimizu has achieved a lot in her career. Among other things, she worked in the “Renate” comic library in Berlin and has so far published six books that are characterized by her creative energy. Her works show that she wants to reach people, not just the masses. Quotes like “The world is a mirror of me” testify to her deep reflection on art and everyday life.
During the coming autumn holidays, from October 21st to 24th, Shimizu is organizing a comic holiday camp called “Traumwerk” at the Haus am Meer adult education center in Lubmin. Children are invited to submit a drawing of their personal superpower and become part of this creative adventure. Who can resist taking advantage of this opportunity?
The combination of art and education that Shimizu practices in her workshop is also reflected in the broad manga culture, which is very popular with children and young people. Manga stories like the stories of Natsuru and Rio address youthful themes such as coming-of-age and challenges in everyday school life, and show how art and stories can enrich each other.
For the students in Wolgast it was an unforgettable day that not only stimulated their creativity but also pushed their mental boundaries. Who knows, maybe the next great artists will be in this class who will immortalize their dreams in comics.