Obata Masao

Obata Masao was born in Okayama Prefecture. In 1899, when he was 45, he entered Hihumi-en, a welfare facility (run by Social Welfare Corporation Kusunokikai) in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. In 1992, he began drawing on cardboard taken from the facility’s canteen. Obata rounded off the picture corners to prevent them being crushed. Motifs include couples at weddings, family, and animals. Red is the predominant color in most works. He always wore red clothes too, with red apparently holding a special meaning for him.