2024年04月21日

PBZ Illustrations Displayed at Dig A Hole Zines in Kichijoji

The artwork from Puchi Boken Zukan was displayed at the gallery space at Dig A Hole Zines in Kichijoji, Tokyo on April 4, 2024 as part of an alternative Pride event.

Writing the didactic label for this event forced me to finally work out what the stories in this blog have in common and what I'm trying to communicate. The text follows below.

Puchi Boken Zukan (lit. “Tiny Adventure Field Guide”) is an illustrated blog I started in 2024. The topics I cover in the blog vary - retro video games, stationery, Japanese language and culture - but they are all united by the theme of “tiny adventures”. Featured here are the illustrations I’ve created for the blog thus far.

In our modern world, when most people think of “adventure”, they think of vacations abroad, tourist spots, or perhaps amusement parks. These have their obvious appeal, but they also have their downsides, being highly expensive and connected with harmful consumerism. Moreover, I think this is a highly limited view of what “adventure” can look like.

The adventures I share in my blog are modest. They cost little to no money, and they sometimes don’t even involve leaving the house. But like any adventure, they involve trying new things, challenging yourself, having fun, and turning an ordinary day into a day worth remembering.

My hope is that these accounts will someday reach like-minded people and convey these ideas: that fun is something you can create for yourself, that being alone does not have to mean feeling lonely, and that you can find adventure in your town, your neighborhood, or even your own room.

Thank you to the organizers and all who came out to see the show!