There are places to stop by on your bicycle at your leisure.
PROFILE
He creates works that evoke various subcultures using illustration, collage, and other techniques. In the past, he has designed T-shirts and official goods for the Beastie Boys.
Instagram: @naijelgraph
-Nigel Graf, how do you chill?
I ride my bicycle slowly in the sunlight. Many artists and designers work in the privacy of their rooms, and I often start creating at night and end up losing track of time. I also start creating at night, and my time gets disrupted. I heard that there is a disease that you can get if you stay out of the sunlight. I have noticed this as an adult, but I think it is important to be exposed to sunlight.
-Do you usually travel by bicycle?
I don't take the train very often, and I mostly travel by bicycle or car. But I think biking is the best thing to do in this season. This bicycle belongs to a skate team called "T19" that my brother gave me or bought for me, and I like it so much that I ride it all the time. I like the freedom of riding a bicycle because I can drop by stores and galleries I know on a whim. It feels good to take a leisurely stroll on my way home from work.
I understand that the cafe and gallery you visited today are both chill spots where Nigel drops by on his bicycle.
Yes, I do. Since my studio is close by, I usually come to Parlors for coffee when my friends visit. The owner is a good friend of mine, and he has many of my works displayed in the store. This outside seating is my favorite, but it's very popular so it's hard to get a seat (laughs).
-Is the item you are wearing today also something you wear casually during relaxation time?
Yes, I do. The sneakers are a collaboration between Vans and A Tribe Called Quest. The sweatshirts are from a label called "Holl and Holland," and I sampled MOMA. I have always loved hip-hop culture, so I get excited when I wear items that are related to sampling, my favorite artists, and my roots.
-What kind of place is the gallery?
TRINE GALLERY" was the place where I held my first exhibition in my life in 2001. It was a gallery called "LABLINE.TV" at the time. I was still a nobody when I went there to ask for an exhibition, and they allowed me to exhibit my work. The hair salon "Surugadai Yaguchi" was on the second floor, so when the timing was right, I would sit and chat with Mr. Yaguchi and others in the eaves of the building. Relaxing outside this gallery reminds me of that time when I was bored but happy with my own exhibition.
