Salomon, Atmos, FACE, and SHINKNOWNSUKE, a splendid lineup of artists, are holding an art exhibition at Takao Base. We interviewed them!

In 2020, the distance between daily life and nature has grown much closer. The unprecedented situation has not only had a negative impact, but has also served as an opportunity to invite many urban dwellers to get outdoors.

And in 2021, the recent outdoor boom is suddenly gaining momentum, and its ties to fashion and culture are stronger than ever.

This is symbolized by the realization of theAtmos.and[SALOMONThe team-up of the two. There, an illustrator who got into mountaineering last yearFACEdaughter (of a good family)SHINKNOWNSUKEA community space for mountain lovers to get togetherMt. TAKAO BASE CAMPis holding a solo exhibition entitled "First steps with Salomon Presented by atmos," which focuses on the theme of "mountains.

Inside the store, a number of artworks created by "UND," an art unit consisting of FACE and SHINKNOWNSUKE, will be on display. There is also a cafe and bar on the first floor, where visitors can relax with a drink and enjoy the artwork.

And I would like to conclude.

In fact, "HOUYHNHNM" was invited by "Salomon" to accompany them on a mountain climbing event held on the first day of the exhibition. After enjoying a four-hour hike, we spoke with the two members of "UND" and Kohei Suda, press officer of "Atmos," who is the key person in this collaboration.

So here we go in the form of an interview.

From left, Mr. FACE, Ms. Suda, and Mr. SHINKNOWNSUKE.
At the storefront of Takao Base.

How did this collaboration come about?

Suda: We have been dealing with Salomon's shoes for several years, and we were given the opportunity to collaborate with them in order to strengthen our efforts in the future. I knew that FACE and SHIN were into mountain climbing, so I approached them. They gladly accepted.

FACE：It was Tsunehira's (Suda) Instagram that got us hooked on mountain climbing. He posted a story about eating sausage in the mountains, and it looked so delicious. When I was looking for hiking shoes, I bought a pair of "Salomon" shoes. The color scheme was exquisite, and I was sure they would be comfortable.

SHINKNOWNSUKE (SHIN): Yes, yes. We usually wear "Salomon" shoes, and we like them, so we never thought we would be asked to participate in this project.

So you were a real user. By the way, how did you complete the graphics for this project?

Suda: We didn't have a specific idea of what we wanted. We just gave them the logo and asked Salomon to check the finished product.

FACE: I was allowed to do pretty much whatever I wanted, and there was very little NG.

SHIN: I was surprised that it was accepted. When I think of "Salomon," I think of the "wavy lines" of the upper part of the body, and when I tried to translate that into graphics, I thought I could make it into "und," which is what we do. So, if you look closely at the logo, you will see that it is an "UND.

Suda: Oh! I see!

SHIN: You didn't know (laughs)?

The Salomon logo is a motif, but the street-like arrangement is quite fresh.

SHIN: It doesn't happen very often. Actually, this T-shirt will be released at the end of June, but it is an original "atmos" cotton body, so it is only for street use. I think there will be demand for this kind of design printed on a quick-drying body. Try making them oversized.

Suda: We often talk about how we don't want to look stiff. We just want to enjoy the mountains in a fashionable style.

You were wearing thicker pants today as well, weren't you?

FACE：Many mountaineering wears have a sleek silhouette, don't they? But according to what I've heard, they are only thin now because they are more functional, and in the past, climbing pants were made thicker for easier movement. So I think this style is not a mistake.

If people think that this kind of style is possible, people who like fashion may become more interested in the mountains.

Suda: Yes, that's right. I feel like mountains are a higher hurdle than, say, camping. So I would be happy if through collaborations and events like this, we can help people enjoy the mountains in a casual way. Also, I would like people to actually wear the shoes in the outdoor field and learn about the charm of "Salomon" that they cannot notice in the city.