Inside Mirror in the Woods #3: “A Studio in the Countryside”

"In the quiet of a countryside studio, a young artist discovers a world beyond the page."

Elderly painter Teacher Abe, whom Miho’s art teacher had recommended, turned out to be an eccentric gentleman with a studio in the countryside.

A tall, white-haired man with a dignified face welcomed Miho and gave her a tour of his studio. Inside the spacious, white-walled room, natural light poured through large windows. Canvases in progress sat casually atop well-worn easels, and plaster busts reminiscent of those in Western art textbooks lined the shelves.

Inhaling the unfamiliar scent of turpentine, Miho felt a mysterious, dizzying sensation. An entirely new world was unfolding before her eyes. The sixteen-year-old Miho, trembling with nervous anticipation, greeted her teacher for the first time: “Pleasure to meet you.”

Nicknamed the “Abe School,” the studio prepared aspiring art students from across the region. Pupils came not only from the Chikuhō area but also from Kitakyushu, all hoping to gain admission to prestigious art universities. After finishing classes at their own schools, they would rush to the studio still clad in their uniforms. Miho quickly became one of them.

Teacher Abe possessed a commanding yet cheerful presence and a deeply unconventional educational philosophy. On one memorable day, he instructed students to tuck up their uniform hems and taught them how to till the soil in the studio’s garden plot. For Miho and her fellow students, it was a wholly new experience—one that would leave lasting memories.