When did you start to give this kind of forethought to effects on the environment?I’m not really sure. Either way, questions like this just naturally rise within as I go about making things. It’s not just printing techniques I think about either, since seeing a few kinds of media makes me wonder about how graphic design is used in them. I think that awareness of issues of direction is going to become more important than it has been in the past for engineers and artists. Maybe it’s a question of semantics. Either way, this sort of awareness is one thing that has changed about me over time.
Is marking a critical juncture or turning point one of the implied meanings behind holding an exhibition?Maybe, maybe not. My first NEWLINE exhibition was in 2004, so I think I was fairly quick as a graphic designer to start holding exhibitions. I went on to do more shows in 2005, 2007, and 2010, but for the next decade after that I wasn’t blessed with many such chances. Part of it was probably also that I wasn’t really in that frame of mind. But, well, I guess that’s how it was meant to be (laughs). The fact that it’s so easy in the world now to post and check out all kinds of independent expression like art, music, video, and calligraphy on social media may have had something to do with it as well. Recently, though, the tone of newest pieces is drifting back toward the real side, I suppose.
What are your thoughts on recent trends in art and design?That’s a tough question, mainly since I at least have always kept to the same style. But, while I do describe myself as a graphic designer in society so that people will understand what I do, there are times where I call myself an artist. Whichever one I use, I think these kinds of labels or definitions are important when it comes to selling one’s work and being of service to others. Unfortunately, I’ve never been all that great at that sort of thing. There’s even times where I blurt out that I’m only doing all this as a hobby. What I’m getting at is that, while I may not know much about trends, I do know that, whether it’s to make money or help others or just for fun, everyone around the world is making things that inspire all kinds of feelings as they try to find a good direction for the future. So, I don’t think you can really say anything is good or bad.
There are many artists out there who produce work based on movements in the art market.I still consider what they do to be art, though, just as pieces made purely for the sake of creating are art. The word “art” covers way too broad a range of things, since it can apply to expression or an occupation, sense or values, or even refer to a market or industry. The same goes for design. Some people say they need to cover the costs of development, while others say they aren’t in it for the money. It’s really all up to the individual.
Tell us a bit about your on-going or upcoming projects.I plan to release an edition with Goliga, the publisher I mentioned earlier when talking about logos. The book is designed to be like a piece of art in and of itself, and after three years of work I think I’ll finally be able to unveil it to the world. Another thing that I touched upon earlier is that I’m moving forward with several three-dimensional pieces, one of which is a project with Kurando Furuya that I’m particularly excited about. And then I have an audio-visual collaboration planned with Yuta Bando, a musician that I’ve been working with for the past few years. All of these projects have been in the works for quite a while now and require time to take shape. Lastly, I’m also planning a solo exhibition of new work.
Translation to English: Luke Baker