Beyond the Wall emerged from a period of deep reflection on identity and belonging. We are often encouraged to define ourselves through titles, roles, or achievements, yet identity is far more fluid than a single label or category. Like skin softening and renewing in water, we are constantly shaped by change. When we allow ourselves to sit with moments of uncertainty and see all parts of ourselves—the beautiful, the messy, and the unresolved—the fear of change can soften, revealing transformation as a natural process. Looking back at this work four years later, now living in Japan beyond oceans and former boundaries, the space beyond the wall feels lighter, with new worlds to explore.

Shizuka Kusayanagi

Message

Follow

Painter and dwriter (draw & writer), now based in Fukuoka, Japan. I’m passionate about art as a way of connecting—both with oneself and with others. I believe there’s no hierarchy among art forms. My practice ranges from oil paintings on linen to single-panel cartoons on index cards, and inclusive, all-ages art workshops. More to come.