On October 2nd, art students from Sakura International High School in Ueda, led by Mr. Furukawa, came to visit the "Connecting and Expanding" exhibition on the second floor. They regularly create art and are exposed to it, so their impressions made it clear that they have a rich sensitivity and a strong desire to create. Many commented that they "enjoyed" both the explanations and the viewing, and they were a wonderfully enthusiastic audience! Here are some of the impressions we received.

■Shimoda Hikari: I like the slightly melancholic expression in contrast to the pop colors, and the texture of the paint. Automoai: Although simple, each one has a story to tell and left a lasting impression.

■I was interested in Mieko Shiomi's stamp set. I'm glad that it's a piece that allows people who love music but can't read sheet music to easily get in touch with music. Sometimes I feel like I forget how to enjoy music, so this has lightened my heart.

■It was great to see not only paintings but also music exhibits, which really showed the potential of art. There were also exhibits of familiar characters, which made it easy to get into.

■The piece that made the biggest impression on me was Kyoko Nagashima's "Seven-Colored Flowers Overlapping on a Tokonoma Alcove." It was interesting to see so many different flowers in one picture, but it also made me realize that even something like a lenticular, which to me is something that comes as a free gift with candy, can be turned into art.

■I have avoided contemporary art because I think it would be difficult for me as I can only accept what I see as it is, but thanks to the curator's words, "It's okay if you don't understand everything," it became easier for me to look at contemporary art and I was able to enjoy it by thinking about it in my own way.

■Automoai's Endless Beginning left a strong impression on me. Even though it was a still image, I could feel the girl desperately trying to survive, and it conveyed the cruelty of the world.

■I was able to learn from seeing a variety of modern art, including illustrations, manga, and sculptures. I was particularly captivated by the final piece in Aina the End's music video, which not only featured images but also mirrors underneath the screens on the left, right, and front, which made the beauty of the images stand out even more.

■I haven't been much into contemporary art until now, but this has made me want to get to know various artists. I want to establish my own style, so I would like to increase my input at events like this. Each piece was well-crafted and intricate, and I was amazed by the ideas behind them.

■It was great to be able to see the works of so many different artists. It was fun to see the originals in person and appreciate the texture of the paint and the glitter. I also really liked the atmosphere of the chapel.

■There were some works that I couldn't understand or didn't quite get, and it made me realize how deep and fascinating art is. When I saw works made with AI and works that competed with it, I thought they were very modern. Automoai's work really struck me. I thought, "I want to draw pictures like that too!" I realized how deep and broad art is.

■I was impressed by Shiomi's collection of short pieces for the event. I thought it was a new approach to see the essence of music not as just the production of sound, but as time.

■I was surprised to learn that you don't have to create a work from scratch, but that art can be made from pre-made products.