ROSTARRThe opportunity came from Andrea. The request came to me through a curator, and since this was the first time for Diesel to collaborate in this way, there were some unknowns for both of us. Especially since the item this time was a wristwatch, which is physically small. But I thought Diesel's concept of "wearing a piece of art" was really wonderful, and I thought the approach of expressing it through a wristwatch was interesting, so we decided to work together.

Andrea.We had to experiment with different fabrics to see what kind of fabric would work best, and so on. I also thought that if we were going to collaborate, we needed to work with someone who not only understood that part of the project, but who also understood the wristwatch itself. When I thought about who that might be, ROSTARR was the obvious choice. In fact, it took us a long time to complete the project because of the trial-and-error process.

ROSTARROf course, since I was going to do this, my work had to be expressed in the best possible way, so I was very careful about that. I had to think carefully about how I could best express my work within the limited space of a wristwatch.

Andrea.: Indeed, size was a very big issue. In particular, many of ROSTARR's artwork styles are wide, so if we put them on a wristwatch as they are, they would not fit. Therefore, it took the longest time to adjust the balance between the size of the wristwatch itself, which is the base of the watch, and to make sure the artistry is not compromised.

ROSTARRWhen I paint, I am the type of person who starts painting without sketching. When I am working alone, I get so absorbed in the process of painting that I lose control of myself and have a habit of wanting to do a lot of things. Of course, this is because I do not want to create the same thing or something boring, but for this project, I needed a certain degree of consistency. In other words, by consciously restraining one's creativity while drawing a straight line, something that could not have been drawn alone may be born. This project was just such a case.

ROSTARRI have loved drawing since I was a child, and painting was the only time I could be free. After graduating from school, I worked as a graphic designer for a company, but I felt uncomfortable with the idea of creating art for others. It was around 1995 to 1996 that I became a freelance artist in search of freedom.

ROSTARREverything has changed, and I don't think there is anything edgy about New York today. I moved to New York in 1989, and at that time it was very unsafe, and I had to be careful about my surroundings at all times. There was a lot of crime, it was dirty, and there were many other negative aspects, but that was also the charm of New York. That is why it was exciting. We were living on the edge, where if you didn't know the rules of the street, you were in immediate danger. But when Giuliano became governor, everything changed. In terms of the commercial aspect, it became a big tourist attraction, inviting various big companies. Of course, this is not a bad thing, but the exciting New York of the past is completely gone. That is a great pity. However, the art scene has become more active because of the changes in New York, and I think that is a good thing. However, I still miss the old days, and I feel sad that those days will never come back.

ROSTARRI think art and fashion have always been married (laughs), especially in the 90's. I love fashion, and I'm happy to hear that many brands and designers are approaching me to tie it in with fashion. I love fashion, and to my delight, many brands and designers have approached me asking if I would be interested in linking their work with fashion in a way like this. I don't approach them, but when they approach me, it means that my art is compatible with fashion. So when I am approached, I do my best to do so. I would like to challenge myself and see how my art can be expressed on various products, and I am genuinely happy to see my art added to fashion, which I love.

Andrea.Art and fashion have been collaborating since the 1990s, but it is not unusual nowadays. What is very important for fashion and art is that both parties have the desire to work together to create, not to shake hands and work hand in hand, but to create together. As long as both parties understand what the final form is, I believe that the process between the two will always reach the goal, even if there are difficulties. If we share the same feelings, we can improve together and mutually enhance each other. I believe that is what collaboration is all about.

ROSTARRI think things are changing, and at a very fast pace. I think Japan is probably the only country in the world where things are changing at such a rapid pace. And the quality is always excellent. It's not just fashion, but all cultural things, including food. I get a lot of inspiration from that. I feel that Japanese people enjoy expressing themselves in everything they do. Of course, the same goes for art. In addition, the Japanese community is small in a positive sense, so I strongly feel that people know each other and have a close network. In such an environment, it would be interesting to work on a project with a group of people. In that sense, I think it is a wonderful place to express art.

Andrea.This was truly an experimental project. We will see how it progresses, but I myself am very much looking forward to it. Personally, I would like to reflect this not only in watches, but also in other products, which might be a lamp, a table, or a leather jacket. It might be a lamp, a table, or a leather jacket. Even though the outputs may differ, I hope that we can move forward with a project that is consistent in its concept. I think we have successfully created the ideal style for this project, which we launched as a first step. I would like to carry on the same style in the future.