This diary entry was written on Monday, March 23, 2026. It marks my 900th entry since I began journaling on March 23, 2023. On this occasion, I would like to share a meaningful exchange with one of my readers, whose thoughtful feedback not only deepened my appreciation of art but also reminded me of the power of perspective—how the same work can reveal entirely new dimensions when seen through another person’s eyes.
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900th Diary Entry
Sunday, March 29, 2026
What My Reader Taught Me About Art and Perspective
（読者が教えてくれた大切な気づき）
I was truly delighted to receive a heartwarming thank-you message from one of my readers the other day. After reading my post about my visit to the Gifu Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts[i], she went there herself to see the pencil drawings by Isaburō Makino that I had introduced. She kindly shared the following feedback:
“Of course, I was very impressed by Makino’s works, but I was particularly moved by the story behind the ‘Transforming Arms into Tools’ project in Mozambique. I also enjoyed the textile-based works by Joël Andrianomearisoa.”
In my two blog posts[ii] about my visit to the museum, I focused only on Moto Yoshikuni and Isaburō Makino, but I also found the peace project in Mozambique deeply inspiring. In fact, I remember being torn about which artists from the African exhibition to feature.
Why did the peace project in Mozambique resonate with me so strongly?
First, the title was both catchy and powerful: “Transforming Arms into Tools.” A Japanese woman from Shikoku Global Network, an NGO involved in the movement, explained the story behind it in a video, which sparked my curiosity about the country and the 15-year civil war (1977–1992) that left a lasting impact. Although I was inspired by the movement, I did not find much beauty in the artworks themselves, so I chose to write about Moto Yoshikuni instead.
Mozambique, located in southeastern Africa, has a land area about twice the size of Japan. It faces the Indian Ocean and shares borders with Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa. Its capital and largest city is Maputo, and the country has a population of about 35 million people.
Mozambique is rich in linguistic, religious, and ethnic diversity. Like many former European colonies, it soon fell into conflict and found itself in a long and devastating civil war between the ruling government and rebel forces two years after gaining independence from Portugal on June 25, 1975. The war is often considered a proxy conflict of the Cold War, reflecting tensions between capitalism and socialism.
After the war ended in 1992, local NGOs came together and launched a peace project to get weapons out of the hands of civilians. Working closely with the government, military, and police, they encouraged people to voluntarily turn in their weapons in exchange for practical goods such as bicycles, sewing machines, and school supplies, while also promoting peace education.
According to Shikoku Global Network, about 95% of the collected weapons are destroyed, while the remaining 5% are transformed by local artists into powerful works of art that symbolize peace and renewal.
Returning to my reader’s comments, she also added:
“What left the strongest impression on me, however, were the works by Elias Sime, which explore themes of innovation and the environment. In developing countries like Ethiopia, discarded precision equipment from the West often flows in, and I felt that his works make meaningful use of such materials—creating something both beautiful and thought-provoking, while also raising important social issues. Thank you very much for introducing such a wonderful exhibition.”
Regarding Elias Sime, my wife and I stood in front of his large, wall-mounted works made from cables and printed circuit boards. Since both of us work in industries that use these materials, the pieces felt very familiar to us. We were impressed by his ability to transform such everyday industrial materials into beautiful art, but we had not considered the cultural context in the way my reader did. I truly appreciate her insight—it helped me see his work from a completely different perspective.
Once again, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my reader for sharing her thoughtful comments and insights.
[i] The Art of Communication Through Art（芸術から学ぶ伝える力） | Papa Tom’s Lifelong Learning Journey ー 英語道 三段への道
[ii] When Art Speaks to the Soul（心に語りかける芸術） | Papa Tom’s Lifelong Learning Journey ー 英語道 三段への道