I held my first solo exhibition. It took me quite some time to find the confidence to fully pursue illustration as my career. Since graduating from university, I had been so focused on work that I drifted away from doing exhibitions, so this show made me really nervous.

The exhibition was held at a café where I used to work. I created tapestries, designed and printed risograph posters, and put together a portfolio for the show. It was my first time doing many of these things, and I was supported by so many people along the way. I found a local bindery to make my portfolio, asked a university classmate to help with the design, and made the tapestries together with a friend who’s great at sewing. It was also my first time using risograph printing, so I struggled with preparing the data properly. Organizing an exhibition is truly a lot of work—but also a wonderful experience.