How much depth can I add within the framework of illustration?
PROFILE
. Illustrator. After graduating from Nihon University College of Art, he became a freelance illustrator and has been working from two bases, dividing his time between Kumamoto and Tokyo. . He draws illustrations for magazines and advertisements, and works on merchandise. This year, she held exhibitions in Kumamoto, Hiroshima, and Parco in Shibuya, and also held the exhibition "Misaki Tanaka Solo Exhibition - Aaan Sketchy Sketchy Sketchy! in Kumamoto, Hiroshima, and Shibuya Parco this year.
I heard that you have always loved to draw.
In the middle of the city:When you are little, everyone draws pictures, right? That's how I was. It wasn't until I was in junior high school that I wanted to go to a painting school or pay for my own studies. There was an art course at my high school . But I was so bad at other subjects that I could only take that course.
What kind of paintings did you used to do in the past?
In the middle of the city:I used to draw girls a lot. I liked drawing.
Have you been painting in your current style since then?
In the middle of the city:I stopped doing things that I was not good at. . I was very bad at painting in oil or painting on a flat surface. I preferred black-and-white or pen-and-ink drawings. Perhaps it suited me better to draw what I thought about immediately on paper. As for erotic motifs, I was secretly drawing them, thinking that they would not be accepted more. . I began to think that the reactions on social networking sites and in terms of the world trend, it was gradually becoming more and more acceptable.
. Your illustrations are characterized by a way of drawing that evokes rather than overtly deals with sex, aren't they? How did you come up with that?
In the middle of the city:I want my pictures to be seen by many people, or I want them to be popular. I want my paintings to have a touch that can be enjoyed by as many people as possible. . I am trying to see how much I can do something outlandish within that context.
I think it is very difficult to draw a line between sex and the masses, and I think the key to creating your nuance lies in how you draw that line.
In the middle of the city:It is a wonder to me that even when I want to draw a very erotic and grotesque picture, I end up with such a picture. For better or for worse, I feel that I have a braking function or a sense of balance within me.
The scenes you describe and the comments you make have an emotional or narrative quality that evokes the events that come before and after them. How does that come into your mind?
In the middle of the city:. I'm interested in that kind of back-and-forth relationship. I am interested in the memories that objects hold, such as when I feel a crush on the butt of a cigarette that my lover smoked. I am interested in the memories that objects hold. For example, when I see a T-shirt that has been taken off in the morning, I remember what happened last night (laughs). (Laughs) Also, the way to peel a mandarin orange, for example, differs from person to person. Recently, I have realized that by arranging such things, it is possible to express a narrative, a personal quirk, or a personality. That's why I've been trying to give a sense of daily life to my work lately.
The setting for the photo shoot was "Yosei Curry" in Kumamoto City. As the name suggests, their South Indian curry using local ingredients is popular for its gentle taste.
. I think the reason I can draw such fine details is because I observe people well, such as through human observation.
In the middle of the city:Compared to the past, I hear from a lot of people and communicate with them more often. Many things have happened since I started freelancing. The biggest was the Kumamoto earthquake. When a disaster or something irresistible happens, it changes your way of thinking and forces you to stop and rethink.
Now that the new Corona has affected the whole world, what are your thoughts and feelings in this situation?
In the middle of the city:I felt a little sad, thinking, "I guess I don't mind not meeting people, don't I? I was depressed because I was thinking that maybe I hadn't been able to build deep relationships with people because I basically work alone a lot and I am not good at communication, but while my partner's curry shop in Kumamoto was open only for take-out due to the Corona, I was able to meet with him very occasionally. I'm helping him with his business, and I just do the register, but it's the first time in a long time that we've communicated with each other. That alone fills me with a sense of contentment, or rather, it makes me happy to see customers leave satisfied, and to make them happy. So I'm now even more proud of my client work, and I can't wait to see my friends and feel positive about it.
Do you have anything in mind when you draw people's clothes and fashion?
In the middle of the city:Don't be too fashionable . . My paintings are not fashion paintings. Of course, if I am asked to do so, I do. . I am conscious of the season, though. In my paintings, clothing is a tool for empathy, so I only paint what I can see.
What kind of fashion do you like yourself?
In the middle of the city:. I try not to look childish because I am short. There was a time when I wore stupid red lipstick all the time (laughs). . I like to wear simple clothes. In summer, I wear white T-shirts and camisoles.
What is your image of Lacoste?
In the middle of the city:I once wore a boat-neck white sweater with an alligator patch at a thrift store. It's an image of an alligator. Alligators are cute (laughs). Alligators are something I've liked since I was a student. It feels very symbolic.
The polo shirt has a buttonless, skimpy neck. The sleeves are seamless, creating a silhouette that emphasizes femininity. The collar, cuffs, and hem are designed in rib-knit. This is a piece that is typical of "Lacoste," a fusion of classic details and modern design.¥14,000+TAX
How do you feel about wearing the polo shirt this time around?
In the middle of the city:. I like this shape because I can wear it like a white shirt. . I chose a size large on a dare, but it's cute. It is also comfortable to wear. The texture of the fabric is nice, and it's very comfortable.
. Finally, do you have any thoughts about your future goals or what you would like to do?
In the middle of the city:I think there is a general awareness that illustration is consumable and has a lower threshold than painting. Even in this context, I am always thinking about how much depth I can add within the framework of illustration. I want to find a depth that is not only cute or fashionable, but also memorable or evocative. I want to find that kind of depth. That is not two-dimensional; it is multidimensional. So I would like to expand the depth of my ideas by looking at various things.
