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8/27/2007
- phofa
- Please tell us how you started drawing characters.
- KAWS
- I got really interested in drawing characters in the late 90's when I had the opportunity to make my first toy. Before that I would also draw characters but I wasn't looking at them like family. I also worked in animation for a few years before I made my first toy.
- phofa
- That was a part time job?
- KAWS
- No, it was a full-time job. It was only a job to me. Show up and work to get paid. At that time I was not interested in animation at all.
- phofa
- Was your style influenced from your work experience?
- KAWS
- No. My character has not been influenced by the time of my work experience, although I cannot single out how my style has been influenced by. But for sure that my experience in animation is not the roots of my style.
- phofa
- Do you challenge yourself by using new painting materials?
- KAWS
- I have been using same media for over 10 years I guess. For last 10 years, I didn’t intend to change. Maybe I like keep using one thing once I get used to it. Of course, I do experiment from time to time, but I always come back to the same material.
- phofa
- Can you tell me what type of materials you’ve “experimented” with, but ended up not using it at the end?
- KAWS
- Let’s say, such as mixture of totally different inks, or try some gloss paint, while I normally prefer matte finished painting. It gives different expression of the paint. Or, use both matt and gloss black paint together. I do try things like that as experiment. Also, using the regular paint but get variation by adjusting the transparency of it. …… I tried this to get the effect I was creating when I was doing some of my silk screens.
- phofa
- Other than artwork, you’re art directing OriginalFake, a shop in Minami-Aoyama?
- KAWS
- I think it is a good thing that I do this kind of work now, so I see my own direction to proceed. But doing other work than illustration is not because I have business vision in that direction. I just always like to do many things. I don’t draw a line between artwork and product. I always commit to both with same attitude. Sometime my painting becomes products. Sometime, my design for graphic influences my painting. If I paint everyday, I say “Having many different works to do, I can always face to each work with fresh feeling.” It is very good for me.
- phofa
- How are you influenced by working together with creators from different fields?
- KAWS
- I think it is a challenge that my work changes after having the third parties’ participation. It is a good challenge. I have different delight than the one I have on own solo work when the product with such other creator finally came up after going through the filter of specialist of different fields such as fashion, and architecture. I am very happy when I finally see the result in person. It is different from paintings by myself. It is a working process by communicating with other creators, which gives me a chance to see the object from different angle sometime. I think it is a great thing,
- phofa
- Speaking of fashion, I was very surprised to see that the zippers of GORE-TEX(R) JACKEThad teeth pattern.
- KAWS
- That is the thing I was very glad to work with Konno. I am in graphic field, and not specialty of fashion. I think it is fortunate to be able to do apparel project with a person I can trust in his field. I think it is a great thing that we both can take advantage of each working background on a product.
- phofa
- How about the interior of OriginalFake?
- KAWS
- It is the work with Wonderwall Katayama I had the idea that I wanted the wall to look traditional from distance, but it is more contemporary when you look closely as it has pop design.
- phofa
- I love this tile because it works as an icon. There are your icons within the design such as X’d eyes, teeth pattern, and cross bones,
- KAWS
- I normally do not flash new idea and complete all the sudden. My work has started from a drawing and then grows. When I first draw X eyes, and teeth graphic, I didn’t expect it would has become like this. It will be nice that they keep growing and become like a family.
- phofa
- Going forward, what kind of creation work would you like to try?
- KAWS
- After having the store, I want to do more store design. Such as, say design stores with Katayama, and after one is done, we say, ”OK, next.” I know it is unrealistic.
- phofa
- So you are interested in architecture and interior design?
- KAWS
- A little bit. When I first made a toy, I was surprised “ wow, my work has become like this when it is 3D”I had the same excitement when we did the store.
- phofa
- OK, last question. What do you think you’ll be doing when you are 60?
- KAWS
- Well, I'll bring out books of the stuff I made to show to my children. “Look, your daddy used to be cool!”
- phofa
- So, at 60 you will not be cool anymore and retired?
- KAWS
- I don’t know if I am cool now. But I hope to trick my kids to think I was. I know for sure I will not be retired.
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