Holding the art book made by his friends, Ōyama now thinks about one thing after finishing his solo exhibition: “Showing that I’m enjoying life no matter what serious illness comes my way.” “I want to leave energy for people 100 years from now. I’m really fast at creating works. I made three pieces even during the exhibition. Once I accumulate more works, I’d like to hold a second exhibition. I want to keep painting, keep creating, and die doing it. That’s my dream. Fighters retire, but with art, you can go on until you die. So in the end, I hope I can finish a great work, say ‘Nice!’ or ‘Done!’ and pass away happy (laughs).” “I think that will happen,” Junko said with a smile. “Nanami Tanimura (38) came all the way from Australia and said, ‘I’ve seen so many amazing works before, so why am I so moved here?’ Professor Fumihiko Nishioka said something like, ‘True art purifies those who see it,’ and I feel that everyone who came to the exhibition left feeling purified. Above all, the one most purified is him. I think the more he paints, the happier he becomes. If people start or restart their own art because of him, or begin what they truly wanted to do, that’s when his creations have real meaning. Also, he’s surrounded by many people who have overcome serious or rare diseases—not just one or two. That’s why I believe he will overcome his illness too. And then, he will leave behind thousands of works—probably in no time. Each time, raising his happiness as he goes. That kind of extraordinary life is rare, isn’t it?”