When he struggled with his studies as a child, Akira Takahashi’s grandmother told him he would end up as a “garbage collector”.
She was not completely wrong, as he now creates art using discarded items and paints umbrellas to raise funds for charity.
The retiree, who was born and raised in Singapore, aims to raise $1 million for charity in his lifetime.
And at 77 years old, uncle Takahashi is about $110,000 shy of his goal.
A significant portion of his art comprises pet portraits on umbrellas that were commissioned by their owners, he told AsiaOne in an interview on Tuesday (Aug 11).
About 40 per cent of such commissions he gets are for deceased pets, uncle Takahashi said.
When asked about these portraits, he shared that as an animal lover himself, he often feels sad and empathises with these owners.
The elderly man has had dogs as pets since the age of four and admires their capacity for unconditional love.
“Although they can’t speak, they are loyal no matter what,” he said.
The artist, who charges $88 for each painted umbrella, currently has a two-month wait list with six pending commissions.
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