EVENTイベント “Message from the Sea,”
an Art Exhibition

Ocean Ambassador, “Morisato Kawaumi Project,” Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan
Special Environment Ambassador, Kyushu Kirishima, Ebino City
mymizu Ambassador

Born in Japan, double Freediving Guinness World Record-holder Ai Futaki is a subaquatic messenger—one of the very few people in the world who conveys the splendors of the sea to us in various ways that include subaquatic art video and photography, TV, conference presentations and instruction in freediving. Using solely her own lungs, she dives beneath the sea like a marine mammal to bond with them and join their ranks, capturing those moments on film in their natural splendor sometimes with her as the object and other times with her as the photographer. Her works depict this connection as she describes it: “We are a part of nature. We co-exist alongside it.”

Ai is truly part of the underwater world. By representing the aquatic realm in a way that the world has never seen, she highlights the meaning and expression of the connection between mankind and water. She is the bridge; she is the messenger from the sea.

Ai’s credits include speaking at TEDxTokyo conferences and winning the Gold Award at the World Media Festival in 2012 for the eponymous episode of the TV documentary program “Jonetsu Tairiku,” and her special program “Precious Blue” on the NHK network has become a series. In recent years, she has been active on the international scene as well, including collaborations with ISSEY MIYAKE and global photographers. In 2019, she held a personal exhibition in Madrid, Spain entitled “Naka-Ima: Here and Now.”

Australian photographer Darren Jew has captured the planet’s breathtaking landscapes and wildlife from Antarctica to Zambia over a 40-year career.

Soon after completing his studies at Queensland College of Art in the early 1980s, his skills found harmony with his profound love of and passion for nature, enabling him to share with others his unique vision of the world. His works are now published widely in books, magazines and photography collections, and he also engages in photographic seminars and wildlife photography tours.

Darren was acknowledged as a Canon Master in 2007 and is featured in the Netflix series “Tales by Light” that follows a select number of the world’s best photographers. His photographs have earned him the accolade of Australian Professional Nature Photographer of the Year six times between 2007 and 2018.

Completed undergraduate and graduate programs at the Joshibi University of Art and Design. Subsequently began creation of PET bottle sophisticated art in 2006. Engaged in steady creative activities that included exhibitions of works in public facilities (art, science and other museums) and the creation of works to assist with the reconstruction of the Tohoku region following the Great East Japan Earthquake. Has simultaneously exhibited a considerable number of large works at various locations in large commercial facilities such as hotels and train stations and in amusement facilities. Has won numerous accolades that include an Honorable Mention at the Japan Hobby Awards in 2012 and was accepted for the Eco-Art category in 2014’s Eco Japan Cup. Her realistic, life-sized works based on biological aspects appeal to everyone who lays eyes on them. Currently has permanent exhibitions at multiple facilities that include the Numazu Deep Sea Aquarium, the Sunshine City Aquarium in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, the Lake Biwa Museum in Shiga, and the Hita City Museum in Oita.

Born in Saitama. Made his manga debut in Weekly Afternoon in 1993. Won the Award of Excellence in the Manga Category of the 2004 Japan Media Arts Festival for “Witches.” Received the Excellence Prize in both the 38th Japan Cartoonists Association Award and the Manga Category of the 13th Japan Media Arts Festival for “Children of the Sea,” which was adapted for an anime film produced by Studio 4℃, directed by Ayumu Watanabe and released in 2019. His work “Little Forest,” which depicted a girl living off the land, was also adapted for a live-action film once in Japan for a 2014 release (directed by Junichi Mori and starring Ai Hashimoto) and again in South Korea for a 2018 release (directed by Yim Soon-rye and starring Kim Tae-ri). Other works include “Saru,” “The Adventures of Kabocha” and “Designs.” Has also released the following children’s books: “I Can Hear the Mermaid’s Song,” “Bus-Saurus,” “Living with a Horse” (written by Yoshihiko Sumikawa) and “Heikuro Magaki: The Stone Steps to Success” (written by Hiroshi Ishizaki and supervised by Bakuzan Kanda). His illustrations have been featured in the likes of “Robert the Cat Pediatrician” (written by Kaeko Kiji) and in the “Children of the Sea”-themed artbook “Soul of the Sea.” Has also illustrated numerous book covers.