Illustrator Araki Koman has been around the world, and then some. Currently based in Bali (Indonesia), she has lived, worked and studied in France, UK, China, Canada, Iceland, Denmark, USA, and Japan.
“Discovering the world and moving abroad has been in my mind from a young age,” she told The Glossary. “Growing up, I managed to find a way to combine my studies and then work with traveling.”
But though her life has been unsettled, her illustrations are anything but. Using raw lines, organic shapes, and a limited color palette, Koman’s minimalist style is influenced by spirituality, slow living, visual anthropology, and (naturally) her multicultural experiences.
“Coming from an immigrant and working class background it felt completely unrealistic to pursue art after high school, especially in France,” she admitted. “Moreover, I didn’t have anyone around me doing a creative job as a career. I thought people like me were meant to do it as a hobby and only the elite could have thriving careers as creatives. Luckily, traveling broadened my perspective.”
Follow her Instagram page for your daily dose of mindfulness.
