Naoshi, a Sunae artist from Japan now based in LA, has been developing her craft for 20 years. She posts her artwork on Instagram, and has amassed over 19,000 followers. Her show “Merry Ghost Land” at Leanna Lin’s Wonderland opened Sept. 27 and will run until Nov. 2.
Leanna Lin, owner of Leanna Lin’s Wonderland, operates the shop, sources artwork and curates the shows with the help of her team.
According to Lin, Naoshi introduced her to the Sunae art form when she submitted her work for one of Leanna Lin Wonderland’s group art shows in 2016. Since then, Naoshi’s work has appeared multiple times at the shop.
“I never even knew what [Sunae] was until I met Naoshi,” Lin said. “We’ve carried her work for several years, so people definitely gravitate towards it.”
The shop carries Naoshi’s artwork, stickers and DIY Sunae kits. According to Naoshi’s website, Sunae art is created by filling in her designs on an adhesive artboard with brightly colored sand.
Lin said “Merry Ghost Land” is the first art show of the fall, and Naoshi’s work welcomes the fall and Halloween spirit.
“I feel like her work is so powerful and worthy to have a solo show,” Lin said. “[Naoshi’s work is] vibrant, magical. Where does this come from? Can we make an amusement park out of it?”
The works in Naoshi’s show include skeletons, cats and Halloween colors. According to Naoshi, she has never created a full Halloween-style show.
“It’s difficult for me to completely change my usual style into a 100 percent spooky one,” Naoshi said via email. “It felt very fresh.”
Naoshi said she began creating art as a kid, but has been working in Sunae for the past 20 years, bringing something unique to her artwork.
“By drawing with grains of sand, I create a distinctive texture in each piece,” Naoshi said via email. “When light shines on it, the surface sparkles beautifully.”
According to Naoshi, she creates her work at home, so it was a contrast to have her work at a show with so many people. Most of the works displayed in the show take around two months to create, Naoshi said.
“I create a sketch in Photoshop and attach it to a special adhesive board made for Sunae,” Naoshi said via email. “Then I cut along the lines of the sketch with a cutter, and sprinkle sand onto the exposed adhesive surface. By repeating this process, starting with darker colors and moving to lighter ones, the Sunae artwork is completed.”
Naoshi said the ideas for her artwork come independently, but reflect her external life experience.
“My inspiration comes from the things I love in everyday life, such as sweets, Japanese comedy and music,” Naoshi said via email. “Encounters with people and experiences from traveling also find their way into my artwork. I create everything on my own, but I really enjoy talking with fellow artists about our creative life.”
Art collector and Naoshi fan, Elysa Gomez, said her love for Naoshi’s work first started when she worked at Leanna Lin’s Wonderland a few years ago.
“While I was here, I really got to know Naoshi and her art,” Gomez said. “Her designs just speak to me.”
Gomez said every time she views Naoshi’s work in person, she is impressed with the detail and the tedious process of creating a Sunae piece.
“I actually created a Halloween costume last year based on one of Naoshi’s characters,” Gomez said.
Naoshi said the character she represents in her work doesn’t have a definitive symbol or person attached to it.
“Perhaps the character I draw reflects the version of myself I’d like to be,” Naoshi said via email. “Sometimes she’s playing the guitar, sometimes she’s a witch — maybe she’s a projection of my dreams and imagination.”
Lin said the shop aims to host six shows per year, with varying themes and causes. The next show the shop is planning to host is their annual “Wonder Pets Show,” where a portion of their proceeds go towards Better Together Forever, the pet intervention program at North Central Animal Shelter. The show looks to host upwards of 40 artists, returning and new to the shop, opening on Eagle Rock’s Small Business Saturday.
“I go to local fairs, [like] Renegade [or] Jackalope, and look out for artists,” Lin said. “Also, artists [can] submit [their] own artwork here […] If a team member is an artist or creative, they can create something for the [fundraising] show.”
Occidental students have been steady customers for Leanna Lin’s Wonderland, and they receive a 10 percent discount, according to Lin.
“We’ve carried Blind Boxes since [the early 2010s], so now I feel like we have a younger clientele too,” Lin said. “Smiskis have been a hit at Occidental.”
Lin said the shop closes out the year with a festive theme for the Holiday season in December.
“We always do a fun, sparkly Winter Wonderland theme with a lot of art, greeting cards or ornaments,” Lin said. “[They are] all local and indie designer-made.”
Contact Lucinda Toft at ltoft@oxy.edu
