PROFILE
Born June 1, 1968 in Los Angeles, USA. He is known as the Godfather of street skateboarding. He is also an artist, and held a 210-piece art show titled "NO TROUBLE," an art show featuring 210 works of art. A living legend who continues to influence many skaters and street culture enthusiasts, and is respected around the world.
PROFILE
Opened in 2007 in Shirokane as a place for people with diverse values from Japan and abroad to meet and exchange ideas, it has hosted exhibitions with artists from various fields including QP, Daido Moriyama, Sandi Kim, Jason Dill, Purple Magazine, and many more. Since 2010, the gallery has partnered with Mark Gonzalez and has held seven exhibitions in Tokyo and Osaka. Currently, they do not have a physical space,Kajumi HayashiThe company works on a project basis under the direction of
Instagram @the_last_gallery
Skating and art are what I've been doing my whole life."
I started skateboarding around 1985. At that time, Mark Gonzalez was already a professional skater and had released his signature deck under the VISION brand. He freely drew pictures on grip tape and T-shirts, and his unique and distinctive skating style set him apart from other skaters. This style of skating had a profound impact on young boys in Japan, even those far away from home. It has been about 40 years since then.
I was able to interview Mark, who is coming to Japan for the "NO TRUBLE" art show for the first time in several years, and this is how we reminisced about the old days.
Mr. Takemura (*back view)The first interview with Mark Gonzalez was in 2000. Since then, Gonzalez has been a regular contributor to "relax" (published by Magazine House) for two years. I have interviewed Gonzalez many times. There is no end to our conversation centered on the common language of skateboarding.
It's been a while since I've seen Mark, and I've been reminiscing about the old days. The first time I saw Mark was when I was driving in Hollywood. I saw a skater pushing really fast, and it was Mark.
Even from a distance, I knew immediately that it was Gonz! I knew it was Gonz! He had a can of Coca-Cola in one hand and was drinking it as he skated from the roadway to the sidewalk, from the bank of the sidewalk to the roadway, ollieing out onto the roadway and skating between cars, looking like a shadow boxer. He looked just like the Mark I had seen in skate videos. I told you this story before, didn't I?
Gons: I remember. I said, "That's not true! I said, "That's a lie! I was holding a Pepsi-Cola in my hand, not a Coca-Cola. I'm a Pepsi Coke guy.
Yes, yes, it's not Coca-Cola! I thought. But it was a red can of Coca-Cola. I'm sure of it. I'm a Coca-Cola guy (laughs).
Gons: That's still a mystery to me (laughs). My wife is a Coca-Cola guy, but I've always been a Pepsi guy. These days, there are fewer and fewer places where you can buy Pepsi. When I come to Japan, I like to drink Aquarius. It is also made by Coca-Cola, but it is not sold in the United States.
A few years later, I met Mark for the first time in San Francisco in 1999. I was skating with a friend of mine around City Hall when Mark came by by himself. We ended up skating together, and there was a gap that was often shown in videos at the time, and Mark suddenly said he was going to ollie over it, and he made it on the first of many attempts.
Then he said he was going to go over with a kickflip this time. It took him a while to make it, but he did it. We were all watching, and were amazed! That's what Gonz is all about! We were so impressed. He left immediately afterwards, saying that he had to go home for dinner. I really wanted his autograph, but my friend who was with me took a picture of him and I have it.
Gons: Was I right? Maybe I'll remember when I see the pictures...
When I got to know Mark, he was already a professional skater, and he was also painting at the time. I think it's great that you've been doing what you love for so many decades. It's been about 25 years since we first met in San Francisco, and I'm glad to be able to talk to you about skating and art.
Gons: Nice! That's right. Skating and art is what I've been doing for a long time.
NO TROUBLE" exhibited & sold 210 pieces of artwork, as well as T-shirts, caps, tote bags and other merchandises.
In your description of the "NO TROUBLE" art show, you wrote, "Art is born from imagination. It is a space where everything is possible, and that freedom is the driving force of creation.
Gons: If I didn't have any pictures, I would be bored (laughs). (Laughs) The number one reason I paint is because it's fun. Even if it is not for a show or for money, I continue to paint. Making art is a very positive thing, and it doesn't hurt anyone.
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