A collaboration in which a rebellious spirit resides.
The brand "Camper" was born in Majorca, Spain. The brand, which releases modern and casual shoes and bags based on "creativity and innovation," collaborated with up-and-coming photographer Takaaki Akaishi. I wanted to break my own creation" and "I wanted to try something new," were the words of those involved in the collaboration. As these words suggest, the items were born as if to drive a wedge into the current fashion scene, which is saturated with the word "collaboration". In this interview between the two parties involved, we take a closer look at their thoughts and feelings, which reveal a rebellious spirit.
(Left) Takaaki Akaishi / Photographer Born in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1985. After graduating from Tokyo Zokei University, he started his career based in Tokyo. He has exhibited his work in solo and group shows, and received an honorable mention at the 33rd Canon New Cosmos of Photography in 2010 (selected by Masashi Sanai) and the Grand Prix at the TOKYO FRONTLINE PHOTO AWARD in 2011. In 2013, he published a photo book entitled "UNBROKEN ROOM".
(Right) Yohei Tomooka / Camper House Designer Designer of "Camper" who worked on this project.
He felt that the photographic works had little impact and were weak in expression.
What kind of activities do you usually do, Mr. Akaishi?
red stoneI live and work in this studio, and also work at an art college.
I took a look at your work, and although your title is photographer, most of your works are three-dimensional, aren't they?
red stonePhotographer is just a title of convenience (laughs), and as you say, the main focus of my work is three-dimensional. When I was a university student, there was a time when I felt limited in my photography. Many people around me were doing painting, sculpture, and installations. While they were pursuing a single work of art through production, I was just using a camera to capture everyday life. I don't think we should compare our different approaches to expression, but at the time, I felt that my photographic works had less impact, in other words, I felt that my expression was weaker.
How did that lead to your three-dimensional works?
red stoneOne day, we were approached to do a final exhibition at our university studio, which was about to be torn down. Since we were hitting a wall at the time, we did an exhibit in which we photographed the entire process of "building a wall with block walls, breaking it down, and cleaning it up. That was the beginning of the process that led me to create a three-dimensional work.
I see.
red stoneThen I used the situation related to making and extended it to photography and three-dimensional and spatial approaches. For example, I made a large number of cushions based on power stones and photographed a room filled with them. Since it was impossible to live with the cushions as they were, I compressed them with futon compression bags and photographed their condition as well to create a work of art. What can I do to break through the problems that arise through repeated production? I feel that this is my proposition.
Why did Camper propose a collaboration with Mr. Akaishi?
friendIt is because he is always searching for something new, or rather, he is always up front willing to take on new challenges, and I often sympathized with Mr. Akaishi's attitude in this way.
red stoneWhen I was first approached, I thought, "Are you kidding me? I thought, "Are you kidding me? I wondered if I could do it. (laughs).
friendYou were very concerned about it.
red stoneThere are other famous writers out there, many with stronger expressions. But me? I am like that.
friendThe "Camper" brand has the desire to discover such young artists. Akaishi's works do not imitate anything, but show a unique approach. I feel something unique in that.
The backlash against the "multiply what sells and everyone is happy" mentality.
When I look at the finished backpack, I still feel that it is far from photographic expression. How did you go about the work?
red stoneWhen I met Tomooka-san for the first time, I asked him to destroy my work. I thought it would be boring if I just handed him the photos and that was the end of it. I believe that collaboration is only possible when both parties work together.
friendWe received a huge amount of data that Mr. Akaishi had taken pictures of in the past, and we picked up the pictures from among them. We arranged them in blocks, printed them on fabric, and gave them to Mr. Akaishi again, didn't we?
red stoneYes, we did. We processed the fabric by wetting it or dripping concrete on it, and photographed its condition with a camera. After taking the pictures, I lined them up again in a block shape and sent them to Mr. Tomooka. We repeated this back and forth many times.
However, the backpack prints are not blocky, are they?
red stoneYes, I did. I had a beautiful mosaic of graphics on the way. But it was too beautiful and too complete. There was a part of me that didn't feel right, so I stretched the graphic and made a mess of it.
friendThat's how I ended up with these graphics... (laughs).
red stoneWe have six reversible graphic prints on three bags, but I think there are more than 100 actual patterns that we are producing.
friendFrom the patterns we received, we chose the ones with the strongest visuals.
Was the idea of reversibility there from the beginning?
friendNo, it was an answer that we arrived at during the production phase. We had so many good graphics that we wanted to use as many as possible. So we decided to make them reversible and ended up using six different types.
Are the backpacks originally from "Camper"?
friendThis was also made from scratch. The most distinctive feature is the fabric. It is made of a flexible yet strong material called polylip, but it is a soft fabric, so it is squishy. Mr. Akaishi asked me to "break the image," so even if the image was completed and printed on the product, the graphics would change again according to the shape of the luggage.
red stoneWhen I heard the idea of reversibility, I had a sense that it made a lot of sense to me. The idea of reversing the image and having something completely different appear was a link to my own way of expression. Besides, reversibility is a cumbersome function, isn't it? You have to go to the trouble of turning it inside out. I was surprised that they dared to try that, but I thought it was unique.
It is a common practice to print graphics on the original body. But why did you choose not to do that, and instead, create everything from scratch?
friendIs it a backlash against the idea that everyone is happy by applying the image of a successful artist to a popular bag? I wanted to try something new and create something that no one had ever seen before. Camper" itself is a brand that makes you dream, and I wanted to carry on and develop that tradition in a good way.
Only by doing things that make you tingle and that others don't like can you create something new.
Wasn't it quite difficult to communicate with them?
friendIn retrospect, it took a long time, and it may have been hard. But was it hard? If you ask me, the answer is a complete no. Mr. Akaishi's approach to the work was strong, and I think that shows in the graphics this time. So I did not feel the so-called "birth pains.
red stoneI was focusing on strengthening the visuals in the photographs, and everything else was left to Mr. Tomooka... (laughs). (Laughs) I told him, "Do whatever you want. I dared to say, "I don't want you to make something beautiful, but rather, I want you to do the opposite.
friendI was told that so much that I could hear it in my ears (laughs).
red stoneI wanted to work on an equal footing, rather than one of us taking the initiative. I think that is what collaboration is all about. It is only when you do things that make you tense and that other people don't like that something new is born. That is why I told them to "break it down" and "don't respect it.
What do you feel when you see the finished items?
red stoneI think my work has been updated by the "different blood" of "Camper" in my work. The production itself was fun, and I think I was able to create something new.
friendI feel that recently there have been a lot of items that are more in line with people's feelings, but I created this item with a different vector. I was working with the feeling of taking on a new challenge, and I think this is reflected in the items. I hope you will find it stimulating.
red stoneIt would be great if many people use it, but each person has a long life, and the moment when an object shines is fleeting. Therefore, I think the key point is how much brilliance it can emit in a short period of time. Even if it is only for a moment, I hope it will become an important item for the person who holds it in his or her hands.
CAMPER by TAKAAKI AKAISHI ¥22,000+TAX each
It bears the graphic impact.
This backpack features an urban and functional design. It is made of a flexible yet strong hydrogen-repellent material called Polylip, which allows the graphics to change with the shape of the luggage. The straps can be removed and the main compartment can be reversed to reveal different graphics.
