Characters are like mascots for artists.
—FUTURA has a character called “Pointman,” and VERDY has characters like “Vick” and “Visty.” What do you think is so interesting about conveying your own emotions and messages through these characters?
FUTURA: Vick and Visty to VERDY, Pointman to me, and COMPANION to Brian (KAWS). You could say these are, in a way, the artists’ mascots. You could say it’s just like how sports teams have mascots. Mascots exist to make people smile and feel happy. At the same time, they’re symbols—just by seeing them, you instantly know which artist they represent. Looking back, Keith Haring was like that. He was someone deeply connected to my past, and he was a wonderful artist. He had an astonishingly wide range of characters, and I feel the same thing about VERDY. There are so many artists out there today, but it’s these characters that connect us. And I think the relationship with fans is also forged through these mascots—or rather, these characters. I’m sure you’ll agree, right?
VERDY: I really think that’s true. I’ve always looked up to artists like FUTURA and KAWS, and I’ve always wanted to create my own character someday. My character was born out of that desire, so I’m really happy to be part of the same community as the people who created that culture.
FUTURA: What I always say is that we’re all people living in the same era. We’re not competing with each other. We’re members of a creative community that transcends national borders, so there’s no reason for us to be at odds. If anything, we’re in a collaborative relationship. I suppose that’s partly because the humanity of artists and their passion for what they do take tangible form. To put it simply, we’re artists, not businesspeople. Of course, we need compensation that matches the time we put in, but that’s not what motivates us. It’s not about what we can get, but what we can give—that’s what it’s all about.
VERDY: I couldn't agree more—I'm completely on the same page (lol).
Launched in 2011, “LEGO® Ninjago” is a series that follows the adventures of ninjas who wield elemental powers such as fire, water, and lightning. Beloved by fans around the world through both LEGO® sets and the animated series, the franchise is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year and is set to release a new animated series, “LEGO® Ninjago: Legends of Duskfall.” For this project, FUTURA created three pieces of artwork featuring Kai and Nya—the series’ central characters—as well as motifs from his own original works. Here, we sit down with VERDY, who has seen the artwork firsthand, to hear about the story behind its creation.
