【FOCUS IT.]A very special holiday for Parco, created by Jean-Julien.

Every year, PARCO entertains customers with spectacular holiday events. This year's holiday campaign, "HAPPY HOLIDAYS," features artist Jean-Julien, whose colorful illustrations will decorate the interior of PARCO. We asked him about the story behind this campaign and what he is up to now that he is living in Japan.

Photo_Teppei Hoshida
Text_Shinri Kobayashi
Edit_Yuri Sudo

Inspiration and creative present found in Japan.

Do you have a favorite place in Japan that has inspired you?

Jean: Nakano Broadway is a place I particularly like. It has a unique pop culture feel, and I get inspired every time I walk through it. I also often visit Jimbocho, which is lined with many books, and I like to travel, so I have been to various areas such as Shimoda and Okinawa. Each place is unique, and the scenery I see is often naturally projected onto my work. If you take a short walk in the suburbs of Tokyo, you may see faded old posters lining the streets. I am also strongly attracted to such nostalgic scenery.

What do you find attractive about Japanese culture?

Jean: The chaos of a big city and the quiet space, I think the coexistence of the two is what makes Japan unique. Mejiro, where I live now, is a really quiet and comfortable place where I can hear birds singing. On the other hand, Takadanobaba and Ikebukuro, which are just around the corner, have game centers, movie theaters, and other lively spaces. This contrast and rhythm is interesting.

You know commercial facilities all over the world. What is your impression of PARCO in Japan?

Jean: PARCO is unique in the way it focuses on culture, and I feel that it is not just a commercial facility, but a creative outlet. It has a young and dynamic atmosphere, and it is interesting to see fashion, exhibitions, and a museum all in one place.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS" and behind the scenes.

The museum also has boxes of illustrated promotional materials.

Please tell us about the concept behind this year's PARCO holiday campaign, "HAPPY HOLIDAYS".

Jean: Just before the holiday season is the time of year when everyone wants more things and desires increase. To express this desire to collect, we used the character of a frog. In Japan, frogs are good luck charms, and I was also inspired by Osamu Tezuka's "Swallowing the Earth.

How did you take the theme of consumption and desire this time around?

Jean: The frog character in this issue has a bit of a cynical look, partly because, on a global scale, it is troubling to me whether the holiday season is the right time for consumption. On the other hand, there is also the aspect that I myself love collecting characters and giving gifts to my loved ones. I project both sides of this character onto the frog.

A view of the decorations inside Urawa Parco. Jean's creativity is displayed here and there, giving visitors a direct sense of his world view.

Characters are under the handrails of the escalators. It is fun to feel as if you are shopping with them.

There are many photo-worthy spots. They naturally enhance the holiday spirit.

What did you keep in mind when creating the characters?

Jean: I was conscious of showing facial expressions in a simple and symbolic way, as in Japanese manga. I extracted the essence of manga and put it into my own form. Also, as a Frenchman, I overlapped the background of being called a "frog" by the English with my own projection, and depicted a frog greedily swallowing Japanese culture and manga.

Do you often come up with ideas for characters while drawing?

Jean: Yes. The more I work with my hands, the more images naturally come to me. In fact, at events, I sometimes draw impromptu, triggered by the words of customers. There are moments when the fragmented memories and experiences I gather day by day connect with each other as I draw lines.

Do you have a particular part you want to start drawing?

Jean: When I draw a character's facial expression, I often start with the "eyes," and when I draw a person, I start with the "nose," and when I draw a variety of motifs, I start with the "belly.

The novelty "HOLIDAY GIFT PACK" for the campaign will be given to customers who purchase 10,000 yen or more including tax (during the period, multiple stores can be combined). Seven items are enclosed in a blister pack: aluminum magnet, flake sticker, pin badge, masking tape, badge sticker, rubber magnet, and mini card.

The use of color is also impressive.

Jean: In Europe, Christmas colors are standard and binding, but this time we enjoyed using colorful and symbolic colors that are not bound by religious colors, in accordance with the free order from "Parco".

Time outside of creation.

Please tell us about your daily life and production routine in Japan.

Jean: After I drop the kids off at school, I play sports and then produce from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. In the afternoon, I spend time with my children. When I was in France, my studio was separate from my home, and I stayed in there for long hours to work, but in Japan, I mainly work at home. I lead a well balanced life, concentrating on my work in the limited time I have, and working on other projects while traveling outside.

How do you cope with slumps and distractions?

Jean: When I finish a painting, concentrating on it all at once, I make a conscious effort to get out of the house. Playing with my children and friends, surfing, and traveling are also important times for me. Since I have a lot of time outside of production, I rarely get stuck in my creative process.

Jean's gaze fell on the works from his solo exhibition "PURPLE PONY," which was on view until the other day. He says that all of them are views he saw during his trip to Japan.
©Jean Jullien Courtesy of NANZUKA

How did your stay in Japan affect your work and exhibitions?

Jean: Since coming to Japan, everything I see is very new to me and I have started to paint many canvas works. Another big change is that I am now able to freely go back and forth between illustration and painting, and I am not so conscious of the boundary between the two. I think "PURPLE PONY" exhibited at Parco is a good example of this. In the past, in my canvas works, I often depicted landscapes and scenes that I actually saw, while in my illustrations, I often depicted imaginary worlds. Since I started living in Japan, I have encountered fantastic visuals, especially on billboards and characters that are rarely seen in the West, and by drawing them, I have been able to incorporate reality and fantasy at the same time in my canvas works. Through my one-year experience in Japan, I feel that I was able to open another new door of expression.

Lastly, do you have a message for the visitors and fans of the show?

Jean: I would like people to visit the "HAPPY HOLIDAYS" advertisements and promotions being held at PARCO nationwide and get to know my work. I would be even happier if they also become interested in my other works and feel a connection to the background.

Two large trees are set up at the entrance of Urawa Parco. At night, they are lit up and the characters float merrily.