PROFILE
Born in 1979 in Saitama, Japan, he left a certain domestic brand in 2020. After that, he launched a cult club "NISHIMOTO IS THE MOUTH" and mainly produces and sells goods.
PROFILE
Tokyo-born artist/illustrator with a Taiwanese father and Japanese mother. He is expanding his activities as a global artist both domestically and internationally, focusing on apparel, advertising, and magazines. He has provided his works to HUMAN MADE®︎, adidas, Better, SNEEZE magazine, Richardson magazine, ISETAN, BEAMS, Foot Patrol, Disney, GOODHOOD, etc.
I'm curious what is in the artist's room.
When did you two meet?
Nishimoto:About 5 years ago?
FACE:Maybe that's about it . I was first introduced to you by SHINKNOWSUKE (artist/graphic designer). I think it was at some event.
Nishimoto:Yes, that's right. I knew about FACE before I met him. Goro of "Minnano" had told me that he knew someone like him, and after that, I was introduced to him by SHINKNOWSUKE. After that, I started seeing him around town from time to time.
FACE:At first I thought I had been introduced to a great person (laughs). (Laughs) But Nishimoto-san is very kind and friendly. I was struck by the gap between his appearance and his personality. When I went to the "visvim" store later that day, he remembered me. That made me very happy.
Did you gradually become closer to each other as you met?
Nishimoto:It is only recently that we have grown closer. Last year, I went to see a private exhibition that FACE-kun was having.
FACE:When I had a solo exhibition at "Gallery Target" in Harajuku, Nishimoto-san came to see me. We talked a lot at that time.
What do the two of you have in common?
Nishimoto:We often talk about art-related topics. The other day, FACE and I had a lot of fun talking about Dan Colen, Ryan McGinley, and other artists I had seen in New York. Also, Weird Dave.
FACE:Just there, I also had an Ed Davis piece on the wall.
Nishimoto:You are the graphic designer for "BRAIN DEAD," right?
FACE:Weird Dave is involved in that area, too.
Nishimoto:Weird Dave , I love it.
FACE:Nishimoto-san's office had posters, flyers, photos, and figurines all over the walls. I could feel the influence of Weird Dave.
Nishimoto:Yes, that's right. He's a very good artist. The people in that area of New York culture are very cool, including Supreme. When I look at your works, I feel the influence of the culture in the art world. It's as if what you have seen is very similar to what I have seen.
FACE:My wife is older than me, and she and Mr. Nishimoto are close in age. She also likes that kind of culture and knows things about it that I don't know, and she teaches me a lot about it.
Nishimoto:Wow! You have a very nice wife.
FACE:He has more unusual interests than I do, or rather, he is very hard-core (laughs). He is very knowledgeable, and I am learning a lot from him.
How did you get into this kind of art culture? Fashion? Or music?
Nishimoto:For me, music is probably the biggest factor. I also like subculture, so my knowledge of it is naturally growing. Of course, there is also the influence of fashion.
FACE:I tend to start with the visual. Since I have been drawing pictures for a long time, I tend to buy music jackets, too, and I am often interested in the visuals first.
Nishimoto:I see , that's interesting.
FACE:. The influence of art is huge. This is an extreme example, but people who like music often imitate Kurt Cobain's outfits. In my case, however, I would imitate the New York studio people who appear in the magazine "relax" (laughs).
Nishimoto:Ah~! I kind of understand that feeling (laughs). For example, "STUDIO VOICE" interviews artists in their rooms or studios for their art specials. I am more interested in what they have in their rooms than in the content of the interview. What kind of artworks they have on display, what kind of books they have in their rooms, and so on.
FACE:Yes, yes! You looked at the photos in detail anyway (laughs).
Nishimoto:The amount of information in "relax" and "STUDIO VOICE" back then was amazing. Nowadays, the Internet has taken the place of those magazines, and I envy them. However, I think the deep and condensed information in those magazines back then was very valuable.
FACE:Yes, of course. I agree.
