Lately there have been a lot of exciting news going on for one of our artists, Lactose Intoler-Art. Recently, a Lactose Intoler-Art tote bag design was featured in two different issues of FRUITS magazine. FRUITS is a street fashion magazine based in Japan that captures photographs of unique people on the streets there. The tote bag was worn by Tavuchi, the owner of the famous “Spank!” used clothing shops.
After sending a “Spank!” inspired necklace to Tavuchi, she was happy to walk the streets of Harajuku sporting it, and be photographed by street fashion photographers around Tokyo. Tokyo Fashion (www.tokyofashion.com) was one of the first to take pictures of Tavuchi, and to post it online featuring Tavuchi’s unique style and Lactose Intoler-Art’s new online store.
In the meantime, Lactose Intoler-Art continues to update us with new art and vintage items to his online shops, and is creating new work as well. In fact, this new illustration has never been seen before, and Made With Japan will be the first to show it. The illustration is inspired by recent trends in Tokyo, including high platform shoes, sheer skirts, and the mixing of bold patterns. Lactose Intoler-Art is currently donating work through Art Drive Japan, Made with Japan’s effort to support Japan after the earthquake of 3.11 as well as other various charities. Future plans for the brand is to continue creating new work, and to go back to Tokyo later this year.
Be sure and check out Lactose Intoler-Art’s at the following links.
Tebori is a traditional method of hand tattooing which arose in the late 18th and early 19th century in Japan. The word Tebori comes from the word “te” meaning “hand” and “hori”, meaning “to carve or sculpt.” The shaft of the tebori tool rests on the thumb of the left hand and the needles are inserted by forward movement of the right arm. Unlike many other forms of hand-tattooing in Asia such as tatau or moko, no assistants are required for tebori.
Hori-Hiro has been continuing this tradition for over 20 years since becoming a tattoo artist. Before tattooing, Hori-Hiro worked as a motorbike mechanic. He now runs a small tattoo studio in Fukushima, a rural part of Japan approximately 2 hours up north from Tokyo by train. Hiro uses both the Japanese tebori technique as well as the western-style machine. However, he prefers the traditional Japanese style, and continues in order to keep this tradition alive. It is said that with tebori, the artist is able to create subtle gradations of tone that are difficult to achieve with a machine. Tebori takes much longer to perform and requires the hori-shi (tattoo artist) to be experienced in this technique, but the results are amazing.
This video shot by Marc Pinto and directed by Steven Guzman for Primitive Tatto, shows the tebori technique and some of Hori-Hiro’s work.
You can also check out his website for more info.
1F 5-13-7 Saikon Koriyama Fukushima 963-8862 Japan
Tel: 024-991-8558［10:00〜19:00］
http://www.hori-hiro-japan.com
While I was flipping through the pamphlet for the Tokyo Graphic Passport 2010 exhibition in October, I came across an interesting artist. Her name is Yoriko Yoshida and her concept according to the website is, “Producing Art Works based on the concept of 「艶やか-ADEYAKA」(It means “sensual”) vigorously.-In an attempt to visualize the Asian Culture, mixed with Japaneas culture, Chinese culture and more.” Unfortunately, I couldn’t make her days at the show, but found a lot of amazing work on her website and thought I would share with you.
An amazing feat of Yoriko is her discipline and diligence as an artist, which is evident by looking at the amount of work she has up- an astonishing 1460 works and counting up. Since beginning back in 2007, Yoriko has been updating her website with one artwork every day. http://workbook.yoriquo.com/
Made with Japan picked up her Asialphabet series, which consists of the roman alphabet drawn out of elements from Japanese culture. So when you’re ready to begin, we will walk you through Yoriko Yoshida’s Asialphabet.
アジアをテーマでイラストレーションを描く、吉田 依子氏による、「アジアルファベット」は日本文化のモチーフをアルファベットに描いたあるプァベットです。彼女はGraphic Passport Exhibition 2010のパンフレットで発見しました。私がGraphic Passportへ行った日はグループが入れ代わっていて、作品実物は見れなかったのが残念でしたが、これがきっかけで、吉田さんのウェブサイト「Yoriko Yoshi Workbook」http://workbook.yoriquo.com/ を伺いました。驚いたのが、企画として2007年から１日１枚、1年365枚アートをサイトに更新し続けている事。この中で発見したのがAsialphabetのシリーズ。日本の伝統といえるアイテムがアルファベットの形に見えるように描いてあって、かわいいです。
Brandon from Lactose Intoler-Art, was kind enough to allow Made with Japan present the first showing of his new illustrations. His characters are interpretations of Tokyo street fashion and real people on the streets of Tokyo. This season, they are dressed to stay warm in their unique style!
Lactose Intoler-Art is an artist who uses illustrations as a way to communicate street fashion trends and fashionable people from around the world. Falling in love with the underground street fashion culture of Tokyo, his main focus has become capturing the essence of the scene here. Lactose Intoler-Art accomplishes this through transforming what he interprets into his form of character art, often combining it to real photos from the streets of Tokyo.
You can visit his blog at http://lactoseintolerart.blogspot.com/
Made with Japanの新メンバーでもあるイラストレーター、Lactose Intoler-Artさんの新作をここで初公開させて頂きました。東京のストリートファッションスナップからインスピレーションを受けて描かれているキャラクターは、今期のトレンドと彼の想像を合わせて表現しています。
LACTOSE INTOLER-ART
Lactose Intoler-Art is an artist who uses illustrations as a way to communicate street fashion trends and fashionable people from around the world. Falling in love with the underground street fashion culture of Tokyo, his main focus has become capturing the essence of the scene here. He does this through transforming his interpretations into his form of character art, often combining it to real photos from the streets of Tokyo.
MESSAGE FROM LACTOSE INTOLER-ART
My name is Brandon Reierson, and I am the illustrator of Lactose Intoler-Art. My work is highly inspired by street fashion culture from around the world, and especially Tokyo. I have spent a lot of time in Tokyo with people who are connected very closely with the street fashion scene there, and I am constantly studying the trends and creative aspect of Japanese street fashion.
I joined Made With Japan, because I want to allow more people around the world to become aware of the style and culture of underground street fashion.
My work has been featured by TOPMAN on their online blog, RIDSNAP’s web site, which is one of the most popular Tokyo street fashion web sites on the net so you may have seen my work somewhere. I also designed a tote bag which was featured in FRUiTS magazine. My dream with my art is to be able to creatively express a somewhat underground aspect of Japanese culture, and to have the kids on the street that I’m so inspired by to someday also enjoy my work. The amazing aspect of street fashion in Tokyo is that fashion is most often started from the wearer and then to the designers, because it’s about creative personal expression. I hope to share this culture with the rest of the world, and to add a unique take on Japanese street fashion.
MADE WITH JAPANの新メンバー：LACTOSE INTOLER-ART
新メンバー、Lactose Intoler-Artを紹介します。Made with Japanにアメリカ出身のメンバーは初です。Exciting! 世界中のストリートファッショントレンドをレポートするテーマの元にイラストを描くアーティストさんですが、東京のアングラストリートファッションにFall in Loveしてからは、重点が東京のストリートになったそうです。彼のパースペクティブから生まれるキャラクターアートと東京の町中の写真を合成するスタイルで表現しています。
Made with Japanと共に、世界中の人に東京のこのかっこいいスタイルを見てもらいたいです。僕の意見ですが、東京のストリートファッションのすごいとこは、新しいスタイルがデザイナーやブランドからいつも始まるのではなく、どちらかと言うと着る側の個性が原点になってるとこです。このカルチャーを外国の人に見せてあげたいです。
Naoshi flew over to Los Angeles, California to participate in the Sanrio 50th Anniversary Event “Small Gift LA (11/12/2010 through 11/21/2010.)
The first picture above are of her works commissioned by and made special for Sanrio. This time she chose the queen of Sanrio, Hello Kitty, in her works. All three pieces can be described as cute, shiny, and surreal- a style that Naoshi has become well known for. Despite owning this style, Naoshi does an amazing job of always keeping it fresh.
On the 13th, she instructed her first overseas Sunae painting workshop as part of the Sanrio event. This cute video above which Naoshi and her friends made titled, “How to Make Sunae” walks you through the steps of well,,, how to make sunae! This will give you a basic idea of what you would have learned from Naoshi if you were at the workshop. Try it at home!
“I was a little scared of the outcome because my day started out with me running to the store in tears. I forgot to bring a bunch of supplies I needed for the workshop! I ended up enjoying the workshop though, and being able to see everybody having lots of fun making their own sunae Hello Kitty put a big big smile on my face. I would definitely love to do more sunae workshops in 2011!” -Naoshi
Alain is a calligrapher based in Tokyo, Japan. Growing up in Okinawa, he learned the traditional ways of Japanese calligraphy known as “shodo.” One of the principles (and beauties) of shodo is that one has only a single shot when writing on the washi paper with a brush loaded with sumi ink. There is no way to touch up the brush stokes later so it can be said that the end result represents the calligrapher’s state of mind at that moment. This stems from the teachings of Zen Buddhism, stressing connection to the spiritual rather than the physical and requires one to have a clear mind to let the brush strokes flow naturally.
While Alain is deeply rooted in this traditional discipline of shodo, many of his works also demonstrate unconventional ways of using this traditional style of calligraphy. One of his current goals is demonstrate that shodo is fun, and that there are different approaches one can make to a traditional style. While you’ll see him paint live at events and holding solo exhibitions around Tokyo as a calligrapher, you might also be able to catch him on a billboard in Shibuya or various fashion magazines as he is also a popular men’s fashion model.
Alain recently created a new website where you can view some of his work.
Takashi Murakami’s art will be available for public viewing starting this week at the Gagosian Gallery for his first solo exhibition in Rome.
Murakami is credited for creating “Superflat,” a style of art which draws influence from Japanese otaku sub-cultures (manga and anime) in a colorful pop art format. From the galleries to the department stores, Murakami’s techni-color charged illustrations with images of smiling flowers, mushrooms with eyes, and a slew of other characters from a fantasy realm took the world by storm. An instant success, his product collaboration line of handbags, wallets, and purses with French design house Louis Vuitton took art to a whole new level of commercial success.
However, this time Murakami is being highlighted for a style he owns but more rooted in traditional Japanese art. He painted two monolithic dragons that will break your neck trying to look from one side to the other. Painted simply in two colors, red and blue, each piece is comprised of nine panels measuring a whopping eighteen meters (59 feet) long.
It will be interesting to hear what people will say about a style that most mainstream Murakami fans are not used to seeing.
–Made with Japan
The combination of red and blue with a creature that has long been thought as a symbol of one’s destiny is my attempt to reaffirm my devotion to art - the creative process for the paintings resembled a prayer offering.
–Takashi Murakami
“Two epic paintings - Dragon in Clouds – Red Mutation and Dragon in Clouds – Indigo Blue – each comprise nine panels and measure eighteen meters long. Cloud- and-dragon paintings, known as Unryūzu, were also key references for Soga Shōhaku, an eighteenth century Japanese artist whose eccentric and daring visual inventiveness has been a great inspiration for Murakami.
Unlike the dragon’s dark associations in Western iconography, the Japanese dragon - an amalgam of the Buddhist iconography that originated in India before reaching China and then Japan - is considered a symbol of good fortune and optimism. Several Buddhist and Shinto temples in Japan are designated as dragon shrines that denote the creature’s exalted status.
Takashi Murakami
November 13, 2010 - January 15, 2011
Via Francesco Crispi 16
00187 Rome
T. 39.06.4208.6498
F. 39.06.4201.4765
roma@gagosian.com
Hours: Tue-Sat 10:30-7 & by appointment Gaigosan Gallery
Our Sunae artist Naoshi will be in Los Angeles this weekend at Barker Hangar as part of Sanrio’s 50th Anniversary celebration event. Inspired by their “small gift, big smile” philosophy, Sanrio’s Small Gift event will offer a multi-dimensional experience for fans of all ages featuring a character product retrospective, pop-up shop, interactive activities and special event programming, in a carnival theme. Curated by Jamie Rivadeneira, owner of JapanLA, Small Gift Los Angeles will showcase works by 50 artists including Naoshi’s on exhibition in eleven unique installation rooms. Artists will transform their favorite Sanrio characters such as Hello Kitty®, Little Twin Stars®, My Melody®, Patty & Jimmy™, Tuxedosam™, Keroppi®, Badtz-Maru®, Chococat® and many more into stunning original works that will be available for sale to the public.
As a special feature in the event, Naoshi will be conducting a special Sunae Workshop on 11/13/2010 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Everyone who joins will learn how to make Sunae and additionally walk out with their very own Sanrio inspired Sunae. Registration is required. (details below)
「Small Gift」- サンリオの５０周年記念
Los Angelesで行われるサンリオ５０周年記念イベント、「SMALL GIFT」に砂絵アーティストナオ氏が参加。世界中からサンリオに選ばれたアーティスト５０人。描いた絵はイベントのインスタレーションに展示されるサンリオのキャラクターとのコラボ作品。
その５０人の中に選ばれたナオ氏は、13日の13:00から15:00まで砂絵ワークショップも行います。
L.A.にいる方は是非来て下さい！
Sunae Workshop by Naoshi
November 13, 2010 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Barker Hangar
3021 Airport Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Noiz-Davi working the wall on a music video for a j-pop band called Half-Life. Nice work Noiz! …and the guitar riff is stuck in my head from watching the video over and over. heeeee haaawww.
MWJ member Yuki Aoyama releases his second photobook, “Schoolgirl Complex” featuring work from his Canon Excellence Award winning series “UNDERCOVER.” This series expresses nostalgia and the sweet/sour eroticism from the point of view of a Japanese adolescent boy. 160 pages, all full color pictures, ¥1,880 (including tax).
Also proudly announcing “Schoolgirl Complex” reached 3rd in the books category on Amazon Japan!
A multi-talented artist, Bosshiko has 15 years of experience as an illustrator creating CG and animations for the television industry in Japan. His illustration series “Seven Deities of Good Fortune” won awards at Asiagraph and TCM (Tokyo Contents Market) tradeshow and was held on exhibitions all over the world.
Bosshiko is also a calligraphy artist and currently focuses on his ad lib live calligraphy performance; painting dragons, divine beasts, and demons on huge canvases. He does this in the dark with only head flashlights at various events in 30 minute sessions. He joined MwJ because he felt a sense of purpose and mission to participate in the project.
Sayoko uses a traditional Japanese woodblock print technique called Mokuhanga. Her art focuses mainly around human bodies, plants and anything with “life”. She hopes to create positive energy that is healing or gives the viewer courage to move forward with her art. Sayoko also wishes to convey the strength and gracefulness of the tree through her use of Mokuhanga.
Sayoko joined Made with Japan because she liked the concept of introducing Japanese culture through art. She was also moved by founder, Yuuki’s passion for the project and felt that she too would love to join the effort!
MESSAGE FROM SAYOKO:
I’m happy to be a member of Made with Japan. I hope I can convey the beauty of Mokuhanga to the world. Please feel hot energy from my art works.
Using colorful and shiny sand, Naoshi will suck you into her innocently playful and surrealistic world of glittery sand art called Sunae. This is a method of sand painting often used as an art activity at school for children in Japan. Naoshi’s art is a fresh take on this forgotten medium as she expresses her mood and thoughts with a her unique pop touch. Naoshi currently participates in art exhibitions all over the world.
Message from NAOSHI
I joined Made with Japan because I want more people around the world to see my shiny SUNAE. I hope you like it! http://www.naoshii-u-iii.com
As a co-founder, core member, and graphic artist of Made with Japan, Seiji has helped build MwJ from ground up. Seiji joined MwJ because he was attracted to the concept of creating graphic art with Japan itself as the motif for the purpose of showing it to people around the world.Fostering his experience as a graphic designer and staying true to his philosophy of creating simple yet conceptual graphics, Seiji continues actively participate in the project.
Message from Seiji
It will make me happy if more and more people across the globe will become interested in our country and culture through Made with Japan .
