TOKYO ART INSTITUTE
The Oil Painting Course for Yaguchi
and the Japanese Art Course for Ayukawa, right?
Yes.
All courses will have the first class together.
The atmosphere is different than in the art club.
Everyone here aims for art schools.
I guess that's obvious.
But it's better than simply practicing still-lifes.
This tension isn't so bad.
Starting now, we're going to draw plaster figures with charcoal or pencil.
I will comment on your works in the last hour.
Feel free to ask me anything.
Excuse me.
For still-lifes, I just draw what I see, right?
Yes.
All right, I will now take attendance.
I see.
Some people have never done still-lifes even though they aim for art school.
Looking for a kneaded eraser? You can use half of mine.
Who the hell are you?
-Mr. Kamei? -Here.
I've heard that many people who do art are weirdos.
-But this guy is quite the character. -Mr. Takahashi?
-Mr. Yotasuke Takahashi? -Here.
A strange way of holding.
I've drawn plaster figures twice.
This is really not easy.
The human face is a combination of complex shapes.
If you fix one part, another becomes weird.
What's this? The position of the left eye is a bit strange.
This face looks familiar.
People tend to unconsciously draw the face they see and touch the most.
Try not to end up drawing your own face on the figure.
Even if I erase it, the paper is slightly colored.
What should I do?
-I'm sorry. -It's okay.
Her face is a mess.
I should concentrate on my drawing now.
Wait. The proportions are so off.
It's funny how you don't notice the flaws in your drawing
until you look at it on the commentary shelf.
Yes, really funny.
That dark background…
It's that girl's drawing.
The dark background makes the whiteness of the plaster stand out.
That's a way to do it.
He's good.
That's cheating.
A silent…
A silent scream
echoed inside me.
-Mr. Takahashi. -Yes?
The proportions are good, and you use the charcoal well.
I guess I have nothing to critique.
How many plaster figures have you drawn before?
It's my first time.
He's exceptional.
He stands out even in that group.
Moreover, he seems to be the 7th place in the national language mock exam.
I see.
But you didn't get a very harsh critique either.
Don't ignore me!
That guy is what you'd call a genius, right?
I never thought I was talented.
But I thought I got a lot better.
In the end,
I'm only human.
-Hey. -But you cracked me up.
You are pretty greedy.
But I like that part of you.
What?
You can't compare yourself to God.
Most of the students back there
unknowingly praised that guy like he was in another league.
Much like you do with Mori, am I right?
But it seems like you don't see Takahashi that way.
If you envy him, you can still fight.
Bye then. My train is here.
Exactly. Ryuji was right.
Why am I so arrogant?
I only started painting half a year ago.
There are many skilled people out there.
You are…
Yotasuke Takahashi, right?
I've got chills.
You were way above everyone else.
I suppose so.
I bet he doesn't have any friends.
Are you aiming for TUA?
Well, yes.
He's probably a genius.
And I am…
only human after all.
I'm not special.
I can't be a genius.
I can only improve by practicing.
Sorry to talk to you out of the blue. See you.
See you, Yaguchi.
Then I'll practice until you can't tell my work from that of a genius.
Wow. She's super cute.
Braids?
A bob cut?
Yotasuke Takahashi.
STRICTLY NO WHISPERING
Hello.
Sit down for now.
I'll be teaching the Oil Painting Course for the night class starting today.
I'm your instructor, Oba.
Nice to meet you.
I'm going to interview all of you one by one.
When called, bring your work to the interview room.
Then… Mr. Aikawa.
Yes.
Oh, crap.
I didn't know turpentine causes a rash.
Hey, Yatora.
Hi, Ryuji. Aren't you in the Japanese Art Course?
This is the 6th floor.
I have things to do.
-Are you constipated? -No, I'm not!
Sasaki.
Me?
What is it?
My name is Ayukawa.
Please go on a date with me sometime.
Sure.
This person
puts on a show of not caring what people think.
She's not my cup of tea.
-It's Yuka-chan. -So cute.
Yaguchi!
INTERVIEW ROOM
Again, nice to meet you.
I'm Oba.
I'm Yaguchi. Nice to meet you.
-Your school of choice? -TUA is my only choice.
I see. Okay.
You're a smart guy, aren't you?
What?
And a straight-A student, right?
But you're not likely to get into TUA as you are now.
You don't pull your punches.
This work belongs to a guy who got into TUA.
TUA is a place that values the person's vision, personality,
and worldview more than anywhere else.
This painting is also sincere and interesting.
But, to put it in the worst way possible,
you only paint what you see before you.
However,
the most important thing is to do your own art.
For this reason, maybe you should study how to compose art.
How to compose art?
Yes. An answer this artist came up with.
By appreciating various works
and knowing how to give various answers,
you can reflect them in your own works and ideas.
Imitation is perfectly fine.
Everyone starts with imitation.
But if you only borrow expressions from other people,
you won't go any further.
First, know what you like.
Let's start from that.
Go to museums or read art books.
Do anything you want.
Just take note of the things that touch your heart.
Then you'll know what you like.
Compose art?
Know what I like?
I guess I can't paint aimlessly.
Next, Hashida.
Yes.
Hashida.
It's interesting.
Very humorous.
The shade of the pencil is a bit rough,
but the idea is easy to get.
I like it.
So this is also a way to do art.
Is this what composing art is about?
I guess I should go to some museums.
I like doing art, but I'm not good at appreciating it.
Yotasuke.
Want to go together?
Why?
Oh, the Morzon Museum exhibition?
Can I go too?
Thanks for allowing me to join you.
Come on. Stop.
And you are…
I'm Haruka Hashida.
These braids are proof of how serious I am.
I see.
Are you both from the same school?
Yes. I'm in the art class.
And Sekai is in the advanced class.
Must be nice to have a friend from the same school.
Right.
I don't think so.
Do you often go to museums?
Kind of.
I go quite often.
It's my hobby to see other people's works.
I'm so embarrassed.
My level is lower than I thought.
How often do you go to museums?
What? Well…
Do I look like a museum-goer?
-I'm embarrassed. -Don't be.
I don't get Picasso's paintings at all.
I thought even I could paint those.
I don't like Picasso's paintings that much either.
What?
To me, art is something like "uneatable food."
What?
It's natural to have likes and dislikes.
Expensive dishes don't always taste good.
Knowing the place and the method of production,
I might think it's delicious.
Even if I'm not interested, I get curious if it makes a splash on review sites.
Even something worth nothing to the world
is a treasure when it's made by someone important.
I see.
But sometimes the explanation of a work
is different from my impression.
What matters most about art is how you feel about it.
I see.
Let's pretend we're buying some works.
Looking at them with the intention of buying them?
Perhaps you'll find them more approachable.
This painting
would light up my home if I hung it in the middle of the stairs.
Portraits don't do it for me.
Can I really be this casual about it?
Maybe
art doesn't need to be that lofty and difficult to approach.
Maybe it's okay to just pick what I like.
I used to dismiss art as incomprehensible.
But now I'm thinking deeper.
First time I've ever bought an art book.
I know a delicious anmitsu place around here.
I'm going home.
Wait. Stop.
-Are you going? -I'm not…
I like anmitsu.
We'll go on ahead.
What?
Ryuji.
Hey.
Let me bum a cigarette, would you?
I wish it rained today.
Nothing is more painful than having your heart broken on a sunny day.
Told him that you're a guy?
I did.
If the guy thought you were a woman,
he'd freak out to learn you're a cross-dresser.
I know.
But good for you
to be hugged at the end.
Are you kidding me?
It's the worst!
He'd never do that to a girl.
He was surprised at first.
Then he looked regretful.
And he suddenly showed a gentle expression
and hugged me.
It's like "I'm straight, so you understand, right?"
You have a pretty face.
You'd be more popular if you dressed like a man.
I guess so.
But if I have to be what the world tells me to be,
I'd rather die.
Girls like me because I'm like this.
I understand women's hearts but don't look at them sexually.
Sometimes they tell me things that they can't say to other girls.
For girls, someone like me is kind of like a prince.
I always disliked you.
A weird but popular cross-dresser.
Is it so weird that I dress like a girl?
What's weird about wanting to be cute and pretty?
About a man loving another man?
I can't protect myself by doing what I like?
What she likes perhaps can protect her,
but it also hurts her.
I think…
the more I get to know Ryuji,
the less I think she's a weirdo.
I'm indeed at a low level as a person.
Boys in the Sculpture Course have great muscles, right?
That was an awfully fast recovery.
Oh, Yatora?
My eyes are open now.
Athletic boys are better than artistic boys.
You know, I think I don't like this person after all.
It's surreal.
The pomegranate you used as a subject is exploding.
Isn't it cute?
Yes, cute!
-Yaguchi. -Yes.
Your work is beautiful,
but I'm not sure what you want to express.
Try to do more test paintings.
I will.
I still don't know
exactly what I like.
Hashida, Yotasuke.
Sorry about the other day.
Don't worry.
It doesn't matter.
If that cutie is single, tell her that you know a fine man for her.
Look at you, so easy breezy.
There seems to be a competition for the summer course.
Competition?
In short,
all members in the Oil Painting Course will be ranked.
In prep school, I was fifth from the bottom.
That's so exciting.
What a creep.
It's a rare chance to see non-first timers' art.
I'm not afraid of those non-first timers.
But aren't you worried?
Well…
But a few years ago, the top-scoring applicant in oil painting
was a new graduate.
What? Really?
You didn't know that?
Her name is Kuwana.
That girl's big sister.
Wow.
Apparently, the whole Kuwana family attended TUA.
So they're like thoroughbreds.
A competition…
Basically a mock test.
It's indeed a good chance to see non-first timers' art.
However,
if Mori was ranked fifth from the bottom,
then where am I?
Stop.
I need to figure out how to compose art for now.
An answer the artist came up with.
Imitation is perfectly fine.
Just apply it to my art.
Well.
It's still a bit lacking.
Why?
But you're challenging yourself. That's awesome.
Your mind should be more open than before.
And here I focused so hard on expression and composition…
Next, Kuwana.
Okay.
Yes. It's cool.
Yay.
I hate to admit it, but Kuwana's art does stand out.
But why?
I thought composition is a way to make your art stand out.
Then why is my art "lacking"?
I'll just have to keep trying more.
Something is still not quite right.
Sorry for taking your time.
I just can't figure it out myself.
I can't tell the difference
between the reference and my work.
It's like a superficial copy of someone's art.
Your reference is an early work of the modern artist Tamana Moteki.
But it's only a superficial imitation.
You don't understand the true essence at all.
Subtitle translation by: Chih-Chung Yung