Amin Abbas

DUBAI: Japanese artist Koyuki has created a one-of-a-kind technique called “Sugar Painting,” where she uses different kinds of sugar and makes artworks with using the ingredient. She is also a pastry chef.

In an exclusive interview with Arab News Japan, Koyuki shared her inspiration for art, saying: “I have been interested in art since I was a child, but I could not imagine making a career out of it in Japan, so I chose the path of a pastry chef. However, I could not forget my interest in art and created a world that combines my love of sweets and art. When I learned about edible artist Janice Wong, I was deeply inspired.”

Koyuki established her career in 2018, when she participated in the France-Japan Expo. “At that time, I was still working as a pastry chef but I was impressed by my friend who performed in front of many people. I was inspired by the idea of performing with sugar to draw pictures.”

“When I was 18 years old, I could not forget the excitement of winning first place in a cake contest in Japan, and I wanted to win first place again in some other genre,” she explained.

Koyuki went on to present a performance, drawing pictures using sugar, and impressed the world of sugar art.

“I lost my dream of becoming a pastry chef. That’s when I found a sugar art class on the Internet. My teacher recommended me to enter a contest and I won a prize, which made my parents very happy and I opened my own sugar art studio. But I was just waiting for customers,” she told Arab News Japan.

“I was interested in the fact that I needed to send out my message and have many people find me. I found a world of performance and art that only I could express while raising awareness of sugar art,” she added.

Koyuki said it was difficult with her art sometimes because the sugar art dissolves in water. Some of her projects were expected to be preserved long-term.

“I usually give my work in a box covered with acrylic sheets to avoid moisture. I then worked as a sugar artist on a piece using clay cream, which is very resistant to water,” she said.

Regarding her upcoming projects, Koyuki said: “This month, I will participate in my first digital art fair after receiving an offer from an Italian gallery. Next month, I will give a dedication performance at my local shrine. I may go to France next October and in December, I will have a solo exhibition at the biggest and most famous department store in the Kansai area of Japan.”

“I’m planning to participate in the next World Art Dubai on March 2023,” she added.