FEATUREA|X Armani Exchange T-shirts connect everyday life and art.
A|X Armani Exchange T-shirts connect everyday life and art.
The closet is the backbone of young people who live tastefully in the city. Armani Exchange has always been there. The clothes are practical, sophisticated, and fresh. Just take a look at the T-shirts that have recently appeared in stores. Printed on them are artworks by young talents from all over the world. Ale Giorgini, one of the participating artists, tells us about this experiment, which is sure to stimulate the daily lives of fashionable people in a pleasant way.
I am sure that I made the right choice, which is why I was able to come to Tokyo like this.
I know that some of the fans of A|X Armani Exchange in Japan are not familiar with you yet, so could you please introduce yourself again?
Ale Giorgini (Ale)Nice to meet you, I'm Ale. My real name is "Alessandro," but only my angry mother calls me that (laughs), and usually everyone calls me "Ale." I am an illustrator by profession.
Thanks. Have you been in your current job long?
that (something mentioned before which is distant psychologically or in terms of time)If I had to say when, I would say since birth, but I really started as a job 15 years ago. I originally worked in advertising and publicity, first as a graphic designer and then as an art director. The reason why I started as an illustrator is because when I was in the third grade of junior high school, my art teacher gave me a very bad grade and wrote on my report card to show my parents, "Don't ever let me do art" (laughs). (Laughs.) Even so, I absolutely wanted to do art! (laughs).
So it was out of rebelliousness. That's a bit surprising given the current cheerfulness of the thing.
that (something mentioned before which is distant psychologically or in terms of time)I wanted to prove to myself that I really couldn't do art.
I see. Now that he has grown up and received an offer from a global brand like A|X Armani Exchange, what are your honest impressions of it?
that (something mentioned before which is distant psychologically or in terms of time)When I got the very first e-mail, I thought it was spam (laughs). Armani is very elegant, and I had an image of minimalism, with black and white as the base color, so I wasn't sure what kind of project it would be at first. But afterwards, we exchanged ideas and I was honestly happy when I heard the purpose of the project. When I work as an illustrator, I often draw pictures for picture books and magazines, for example, but this time it was for T-shirts. I was very happy to be able to draw illustrations on something that people would actually use.
Ale drew the pop face graphic this time, what is your intention with it?
that (something mentioned before which is distant psychologically or in terms of time)This T-shirt itself does not have a title, but the title I gave myself is "Smile Starter. When I actually choose a T-shirt, I think it not only symbolizes me, but also gives some kind of message to the people who are looking at it. So in the morning ...... for example, in Northern Italy, mornings are very busy and people don't smile very much. But I put the idea that the person wearing this T-shirt or the person who sees it will smile.
It would be wonderful if such thoughts of the creators could be conveyed. I feel that the distance between art and fashion has been shrinking in recent years, and not just at .
that (something mentioned before which is distant psychologically or in terms of time)I feel the same way. But in fact, I think art and fashion should have originally come closer together, and it was just a matter of time. Nowadays, we can learn about many different artists and things using smartphones and the web, so art is becoming more accessible and everyone has a lot of knowledge. So I think it's a very good thing in the sense that we can now draw something more conceptual, not just put a logo or conventional graphics on a T-shirt.
That's why I was really touched that I was chosen. I thought, "This must be a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'm really honored and happy. But this collaboration is not a goal, but a starting point. I would like to continue to take on challenges like this whenever I have the chance.
On the day of the T-shirt release, you came to Japan and showed live drawings at the flagship store in Shinjuku.
that (something mentioned before which is distant psychologically or in terms of time)This time, since it was a free performance, I didn't do any sketching and drew directly with acrylics, but until about two years ago, I used to draw sketches with pencils after asking what they wanted me to draw, and then digitized the sketches. Now I draw sketches on my iPad Pro and then make them directly digitally. That's why I don't have a single pencil on my desk now (laughs). I travel abroad a lot, so it's more convenient for me.
What is the biggest source of inspiration for your creations?
that (something mentioned before which is distant psychologically or in terms of time)I don't think inspiration exists for me. The reason is that I have been working as an illustrator and a professional for 20 years, and during that time, I think it is normal to always have some kind of inspiration so that I can have an idea to draw. I think it is professional to always be ready with an idea and ready to draw, rather than waiting for inspiration after being commissioned to do something.
However, there is definitely a stimulus, and for me that stimulus is everything I saw when I was little, up to the age of about eight. I think that's still my biggest source of inspiration. Comics are one of them, like Hanna Berbera, the Italian cartoonist who drew "The Flintstones". I was born in a small village, but there was a small library below our house, so from a young age I went to the library to look at picture books and various illustrations, which is still an asset for me today. Especially the illustrations from the 60s and 70s that I saw when I was little.
So that's the roots of that thing. Your current activities are often spectacular like this one, but have there been any hard times in your life as an artist?
that (something mentioned before which is distant psychologically or in terms of time)There are many (laughs). (Laughs.) First of all, the job of illustrator itself is not well known in Italy. There are some famous designers such as Armani and Valentino. When asked what I do, I answer, "I'm an illustrator," but they say, "You do that on weekends, right? I am an illustrator," they would say, "You do that on weekends, right? If I don't explain that I do it as a job, they don't understand. This is one of the reasons why most of the work I receive is from overseas.
That is a bit surprising, because from a Japanese perspective, Italy is a country with a deep understanding of the arts in general.
that (something mentioned before which is distant psychologically or in terms of time)There were many other difficult situations as well, but the first was when I was in the third grade of junior high school and my teacher told me that I was not cut out for this kind of work. But the fact that I am now here in Tokyo as an artist shows that I made the right choice. Oh, but my mother is 80 years old now, and she still doesn't know what kind of work I do (laughs).
Please tell your mother that I was invited to Tokyo as an artist (laughs). This is your first visit to Japan. What was your impression of Tokyo before you came and how do you feel now that you are here?
that (something mentioned before which is distant psychologically or in terms of time)Before coming to Japan, I was worried about communication. But I am happy to report that I had no problems yesterday when I walked around the city by myself. I was on the phone with my partner earlier and he said, "I think you're going to fall in love with Japan. (laugh). (Laughs) In fact, I am very happy because there are many things I like about Japan, such as the architecture and exhibitions, but what I like even more is the people. I love the hospitality of the people in Japan, and the calmness of the people. Also, I heard that there is a typhoon coming, and I guess I am a little excited because it will be my first time (laughs).
Ale Giorgini Born in Italy, currently based in Vicenza, Italy. His illustrations, which use pop colors and geometric compositions, have attracted a great deal of attention, and his work can be seen in books, magazines, and advertisements around the world. His clients include Jeep, Puma, Disney Entertainment, and Sony Pictures, many of which are familiar to Japanese audiences. www.alegiorgini.com
#st_ART" is a collection of graphic T-shirts by up-and-coming artists selected by Giorgio Armani himself. Seven artists from around the world, including Armani, are participating in the collection. All of the artwork created in line with the brand concept of "A|X Armani Exchange" has a strong individuality, which can be enjoyed on a daily basis through the T-shirts. In Japan, these T-shirts are only available at four directly managed stores. Each ¥7,000 + tax
