FEATURE | Vibes that connect across borders, GRAJOOLA.
Vibes that connect across borders, GRAJOOLA.
Music that I listened to for hours without getting tired of it. Magazines that I read over and over again and fell to pieces. Time that seemed endless. The incense named Cannabis that you ate for maximum relaxation. This is a little different from everyone else's coming-of-age story. Yes, this is the story of ZMURF and NONCHELEEE, artists from Fukuoka, Japan, during their high school days. The season at that time was just summer, and the background music was trojans' Lovers 3-CD set "LOVERS BOX SET" and UA's "TURBO". It was during this time that the two met YOONKEE. This exhibition with him is a dream come true for both of them, as they have been complete fans of his ever since they happened to see him in a magazine when they were in high school. We interviewed them about how this special project came to fruition and about their respective production activities, which the three are currently in the groove of.
(Left) Yoonkee Kim Born in 1980. Based in Seoul. Influenced by London dub, he started his music career and released "ASIZAN ZOMBIE" in 2004. Now he also works as an artist, focusing on painting and drawing. yoonkeekim.bandcamp.com www.instagram.com/y00nkeekim/
(middle) Kazuma Ogata / ZMURF Born in 1986. Works at the base in Tokyo. BLOOD!", a unit with his younger brother, produces paintings that reference fluorescent tape and signs used at construction sites. BLOOD!" with his younger brother, and in recent years, he has been creating three-dimensional works as an individual activity. He is also a member of 51.3 G-WAVE, an Internet radio station. ohblood.tumblr.com www.instagram.com/zmurfobld/
(Right) Noncheleee Born in 1986. Works at the base in Fukuoka. His illustrations with a unique touch are reminiscent of reggae and dub. He is also active in music and runs a store called "ON AIR" in Fukuoka. fuguriddim.com
First of all, please tell us how you came to this exhibition.
non-cherryI met Yunky this summer in Seoul, Korea. At that time, he said, "I'm going to Japan next winter! So we decided to have an exhibition together. We talked a little about Zumarff, and he said, "Who the hell is this Zumarff guy? (Laughs.) So, right after that, the three of us started a line.
Zmerf.It was decided pretty quickly, wasn't it? I don't think we even had Yunkie's live schedule yet; he was coming in November, so we just decided to go with that schedule for now.
How was the title "GRAJOOLA" decided?
non-cherryIt was decided rather early on.
yuunkieI think it was my use of the word "grajula" that started it all.
Zmerf.As I recall, it doesn't mean anything in particular, does it?
yuunkie. yes.
non-cherryBut you imagined a monster like Godzilla, right? Like Godzilla's brother.
yuunkieOh, did I say that? Well, then, that's what I meant (laughs). When Zmirv and I were thinking about the title of this exhibition, I said I thought it would be good to have a funny-sounding title like "Grajula," and he said, "That's it! That's good. I told that to NONCERRY, and he said, "That's really cool! He said, "That's so cool!
non-cherryThen the next day, they already sent me the title letter.
yuunkieI drew the letters using a computer.
non-cherryI was so excited when I saw it.
We were told that Zumarff and Noncherry were originally big fans of Yunky.
non-cherryThat's right. We were classmates in the same high school, and our seats were in front of and behind each other, so we became good friends (laughs). (Laughs.) Yunky happened to be in "relax," a magazine we were both reading at the time.
Zmerf.Well, that was bad, wasn't it, No. 88?
non-cherryYes, Lovers Rock Special. He was Korean, living in London, skating, painting, and making reggae and dub music. Everything was already fresh at that time.
Zmerf.We also liked reggae and skateboarding. The soundtrack was also badass.
non-cherryYes, I have an album called "Asian Zombie". They released an album called "ASIAN ZOMBIE," and the cover has a bit of a low profile feel to it.
Zmerf.Then again, it's been quite a while.
non-cherry13 years (laughs).
Zmerf.But I still listen to it. It doesn't fade away.
You took a short break from production after that, didn't you?
yuunkieYes, I took a break from my activities around 2009. Then one day, my father said to me, "You are nobody if you don't produce music and pictures. You will die soon. I was like, "Really? (laughs). (laughs). After he said those words, I started creating again.
Zmerf.Eh! That's right (laughs)!
non-cherryI heard a really good story.
yuunkieMy father told me to produce more music, and my mother and sister told me to paint more.
How did you two know that you were starting to restart?
Zmerf.I checked constantly. Rather regularly.
non-cherryWhen I checked, I found that the website had also changed in various ways. When I was active, the website seemed to be quite complete, but after I went on hiatus, it was no longer updated. The texture of the pictures also became more digital. I was following the site like that, and then one day it started being updated again (laughs).
yuunkieYes, I have. I took a break for about 8 years. After I started again, the things I made changed a little, and when I released "ASIAN ZOMBIE," I wanted to make a reggae album. Of course reggae is still my roots, but I wanted to do something a little different. Of course there are similarities, but my feelings are different.
Did Yunkie originally know the two of you?
yuunkieI had seen NONCERRY's work on the Internet and other places after being introduced to him by a mutual friend. Besides, I had heard his music when I went to visit a friend's studio, so I had heard his music as well.
non-cherryWhen was that?
yuunkieI think it was, like, a year ago. I thought it was funky, playful, and interesting. Then I heard that Noncherry was coming to Korea, and my friend asked me if I wanted to participate in the same event. My friend asked me if I wanted to participate in the same event. I was like, "Great! And I was like, "Yes, that would be great! And then the story just kept evolving, and here we are now (laughs).
non-cherry(Laughter). Yes, after that, the conversation really went on and on and on and on.
Please tell us about each of your works. First of all, can you tell us about your latest work, Mr. Yunkie?
yuunkieYes, I did. The large paintings were done with spray paint. I did it in a park in Korea because it smells bad if I do it indoors. When I paint small paintings, I don't think about anything in particular, but I try to express what comes out of me. I try to express what comes out of me. The movement of the pen on the paper, the strokes of the brush, and so on. I make use of what comes naturally to me.
Zmerf.Yunky (organic) like (laughs).
yuunkieThen there's the graffiti element: when I was 19, I was always going out on the streets in my hometown and drawing. But lately I feel like I would get caught if I did it (laughs). Besides, I feel like it's a waste to use paint on the street, so I've recently started spraying on paper.
Is there a common element of "graffiti" in the works of the three artists?
non-cherryThat's right. As I mentioned earlier, it is also connected to the elements of skating and music.
Zmerf.I think the generational influence is also a major factor.
Mr. Zmaf, you have been creating three-dimensional works recently.
Zmerf.That's right. I create new works by assembling pre-existing objects, such as trash cans, tape, and tools used for fixtures. I noticed that you have been using flowers a lot lately. Well, they are fake flowers (artificial flowers). For example, this hanging piece is an artificial flower, so it will never become a dried flower.
non-cherryYou included an image for dried flowers.
Zmerf.Oh, yeah. This is going to stay that way forever.
non-cherry(Laughter).
Zmerf.Also, the basics are rasta color.
non-cherryThat's the basics.
Zmerf.Another thing is that I recently went to Kyoto and saw a very nice stone garden at Ryoan-ji Temple. I would not go so far as to call it Zen, but I was impressed by the concept of "imperfect beauty. So, is there an element of that in your work? (Laughs)
non-cherryLike the pause? It's Zen (laughs).
Non-Cherry's work looks a little different than usual this time.
non-cherryI've been painting a lot lately. When you draw day after day, you get bored with what you are drawing. The silhouettes and shapes that I can produce are becoming more and more fixed. So I tried to somehow change that every day. I tried to add new silhouettes. The work shown in this exhibition is a part of my research to create a funny vibe by making the knees and hips extremely twisted, and it is a series of dolls with a troll-like head and body that gives off a non-'18 feel. I know someone else who does this kind of style, right?
Zmerf.WK Interact...you saw him when you were about 18. He's from France, and he puts up big gnarly people all over the city. I still think what I saw about 10 years ago is bad.
non-cherryThat's right. When I was in high school, I found a sticker from a magazine on the dresser in my friend's room, and I remember the VIBE that was created by the combination of the sticker and the tacky, light wood-grained dresser in my parents' house. I think it's nice to include that period feel. The overall mood is like photosynthesis, even if I quote it, so I think it fits. I think the timing of doing it now might have been good.
Zmerf.I agree. At this point, let's make it big and put it up in the city (laughs).
non-cherry(Laughs) I have also always liked the Korean Hangul script form, and well, that was also inspired by Yunky. He is the reason why I started to pay attention to Korea. This time, since I was exhibiting with Yunky, I actively incorporated Hangeul elements. But actually, if you look closely at this one, you can see that the word "KOOL" is drawn instead of Hangul.
yuunkieYou can also read it in Hangul.
non-cherryYes, I see. What does it mean?
yuunkie"Gifted Cow".
all of uslaughing hard (single person)
Zmerf.But Korea was certainly a place that was close to us. Nontje is from a place called Momochihama in Fukuoka, and when we go to the beach there, we find things washed ashore from Korea.
non-cherryKorea is very close. So I feel familiar with Korea. Also, this one is a comic strip about door-to-door sales of suntan cream. It is about door-to-door sales of suntan cream, but the container is filled with soy sauce, and just by applying it, you can instantly turn black (laughs).
Zmerf.Is there really such a story?
non-cherryNo," I made up the story. I finally managed to blend real Hangul into the work in a way that made sense. I like it, but I didn't want to use it simply without meaning because it would be like a fashion statement.
The three of you made a special box for this exhibit, didn't you?
non-cherryYes, we made a box. It contains a tote, a collection of everyone's work, a book, and a tape.
Zmerf.The tape is the latest sound source made by Yunky.
non-cherryThat was quick to make, wasn't it like a day or so?
yuunkieNo, no, not in a day (laughs), it took me about a week or two.
non-cherryOh, was that right? I thought it would be about three days. We were surprised and said, "It's already done? We were surprised.
Zmerf.The prints for the box were all hand-printed by Noncherry. They were printed in Fukuoka and brought to us. The tote bag also features the works of each of the three artists.
non-cherryAlso, I decided to set this at a price that even high school kids could afford. The price is set very low.
Zmerf.It's a box for high school students (laughs). Yunky was very particular about this and spoke passionately about it, so we were moved by his words.
yuunkieI think it is very important to make the price affordable, especially for young people.
non-cherryWell, so this is already like charity (laughs).
Zmerf.High school students who don't have $5,000 are already up if they shoplift or something.
non-cherryAlso, I was influenced by the "Zen feeling" that Zmahf mentioned earlier. I really wanted to print the box in two editions, like a pizza box, but in the end I ended up with this main visual. Nothing. It's simple (laughs).
Zmerf.Also, I made a special edition limited to 3. 10000 yen, with a different color tote and a signature (lol). It is mint green.
Do you have any final message?
non-cherryWell, I would love to stay for the entire exhibition. (Note: Non-Cherry was here for the installation and was interviewed before returning to Fukuoka on that leg of the trip.)
Zmerf.I only have about 20 minutes left. Oh no, I don't want to leave (laughs).
non-cherryBut I was just glad to be able to come just to set up.
