“BLOOD NIGHT”, oil paint on canvas, 48” x 36”.
Performers preparing for the “BLOOD NIGHT” event at House of Yes nightclub in Brooklyn.
(2023 Brooklyn, NY, USA)
“Reclining Performers”, oil paint on canvas, 48” x 36”.
Performers relaxing after their performance backstage at the “House of Yes” nightclub in Brooklyn.
(2022 Brooklyn, NY, USA)
“Freakshow”, oil paint on canvas, 60” x 40”.
*posted on 2021;
It took a long time, but I am finally able to present this painting today. I’ve been emotionally motivated to finish this piece.
This is the backstage of the “FreaKKshow” event that we, Kostume Kult and House of Yes, held last year. What do the performers look like as they wait in the wings?
In the long history of art, there have been many works depicting performers backstage, before or after their performances. Many of the famous works I know have dark expressions on their faces. They are often said to be a projection of the artist themselves, showing the complexity of the mind of a person that expresses themselves and is supposed to please others.
As an artist, I have been influenced by such works ever since I was studying art when I was a teenager.
However, the backstage I saw last year was filled with the feeling of tension and positive energy because this was one of the first events that took place after the long lockdown.
One year before this event, during the pandemic, I saw dancing performers at the Brooklyn Museum and painted the scene. It was like a burst of energy from a dancer deprived of a place to express themselves.
But at this event, they were finally able to dance in public. I loved this time so much that I hurriedly sketched there to somehow preserve this moment and reconstructed them, and finally one painting was completed.
And I am still drawing them today. Not them on stage, but backstage. (They are best seen live on stage. Buy a ticket and go to House of Yes or any event where they perform.) I want to draw stories of those who show cool and mysterious faces on stage. Hopefully, someday I will have the opportunity to exhibit them all together.
(2021 Brooklyn, NY, USA)
“Mononoke”, Mixed media.
An installation of objects depicting imaginary animals. Made of plexiglass and LED. It was produced for Burning Man’s regional events and exhibited at “POrtal Burn” in upstate New York, “Transformus” in West Virginia, and “NECTR” in Connecticut. It was also exhibited at the “City of Gods” event in New York City.
Art grant awarded at each event.
Each object is connected wirelessly and LEDs glow synchronously. In addition, several sensors are built in, and the glowing pattern changes based on interaction with the participants.
Statement:
In folklore, superstition, or urban legends, festivals had been believed to have non-human participants: God, gods, ghosts, fairies or spirits, etc. (In Japan, where we’re from, they often appear in the form of local animals.) This year, the spirits of many animals participate. Although a bit timid, they seem to be interested in our festivities. How will they react when we humans approach them?
Collaborator : Nozomu Shoji
(2022 West Virginia, Connecticut, NY, USA)
Reference
“Decompression NYC 2022 Effigy”, Mixed media, 17′ x 5′.
An effigy that was created for the official Burning Man regional event “Decompression NYC 2022”.
The comments posted for the community after the event;
“It was only two weeks ago that we were asked about an effigy. To create 17 feet of art in two weeks was challenging, but we are relieved to have done it.
Our (artistic) goal was to make connections, to make people feel connected.
Your active “participation” made it possible; we attached a total of 24 strings from the Man and asked everyone to pull them. We had 80 confetti poppers. Raise his arms by pulling the strings, and blowing the confetti with the leaf blowers. Great performances, MC, lighting, and projection made the moment a lot of fun.
If the “moment” made you remember the connections you experienced at Playa, or if you went to Playa for the first time and discovered that there is such a great community in NYC, then we have accomplished our goal.“
Collaborator : Nozomu Shoji
(2022 Brooklyn, NY, USA)
Reference
“Dancer”, oil paint on canvas, 36” x 36”.
*posted on May 30th, 2021
I think it’s good timing to share this because the pandemic is almost over, and I think everyone is missing the dance floor.
But this is not about a nightclub, but about a scene I saw at a museum.
One day, I went to the Brooklyn Museum because There are only museums open (what else to do?).
They were just having an exhibit about “Studio 54”, with photos of historic nightclubs and dresses from that era.
One of the rooms was a replica of a dance floor. A disco ball and moving lights were set up, the music was played at a high volume for a museum, and the word “Dance” was written on the floor.
Coincidentally, it was the crews of House of Yes who were dancing there!! Their space for self-expression had been taken away due to the pandemic, but they had found a small place.
I immediately thought I needed to paint this experience.
The people on the left and right of this picture are pessimistic people staring at the glory of the past. Those people represent a society confused and exhausted by the pandemic.
On the other hand, this dancer, expressing joy, is very strong. It seemed to me that the dance was filled with the feeling of “need to dance” and “want to dance”. I drew this dancer as an expression of the part of a human being that is “living”, feeling that “we have not lost our future”!
I, too, painted this picture with a strong feeling.
Soon, nightclubs will be back. I can’t wait to see them.
(2021 Brooklyn, NY, USA)
Installation for Burning Man, camp Kostume Kult frontage.
(2019 Black Rock City, USA)
Installation for Burning Man, camp Kostume Kult frontage.
(2018 Black Rock City, USA)
DJ booth for an event Kostume Kult Halloween 2018 Tails from the Krypt!.
(2018 New York, USA)
An effigy for New York official Regional Burn event. Grant awarded.
(2017 New York, USA)
An effigy for art event “Burning Japan 2016”, 13 feet height of wooden phoenix, burned at the end of the event. Since Burning Japan is a “Participatory” art festival, assembling was held at event venue during the event period, by the numbers of participants.
(2016 Nigata, Japan)
Stage decoration for “Hoyu Project C”, haircut performance show.
(Client Hoyu Professional)
(2018 Yokohama, Japan)
