Looking Back on Pleasant Shimo in 2025

At the start of 2025, Pleasant Shimo was still taking shape. We had eight finished prints, a small group of artists, and a lot more questions than answers. We were testing materials, refining the visual language, and figuring out how to present this idea in a way that accurately and authentically represented the artists' and the neighbourhoods they were depicting.

There were moments of clarity, and just as often, moments of uncertainty. But isn’t that how most meaningful things begin?

What followed was a year of methodical progress, creative inspiration, and a lot of trial and error.  

We also spent 2025 learning how to tell our story. We worked on striking the right tone for the brand and developed a website that reflected the spirit of Pleasant Shimo.

Our debut was at the Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival, a signature local event that perfectly reflected our cross-Pacific roots. From the moment we signed up, we had just four weeks to build a booth, finish the site, finalize prints, and pull everything together. We rented a van, hauled massive steel display panels from a warehouse on the edge of the city. With the help of my Aunt and cousins, were made it happen.

Watching people engage with the work felt like the culmination of everything we’d poured into the year. It was both surreal and deeply rewarding.

Some bought Stanley Park or Granville Island prints. Others were drawn to places they had just visited, or were dreaming of visiting soon, like Shibuya or Nakameguro.

We got to witness, firsthand, what happens when someone connects with a piece of art that reminds them of somewhere they love.

Since then, I’ve had to take on just about every role: designer, marketer, packager, copywriter, logistics coordinator. It’s been daunting at times. Learning Klaviyo, figuring out SEO, assembling press kits, applying to shows, fielding customer messages, shipping orders, and still trying to make time for new ideas. 

It's deeply rewarding seeing the work resonate.  I’ve gone from interviewing others as a journalist to now being interviewed for Vancouver Magazine. And this month, we were featured in the Georgia Straight’s Ultra-Local Gift Guide.

We’re experimenting, testing, and adapting every step of the way. 

Thanks for being part of our first year. We can’t wait to share what’s next.