FEATURE 03

HIROSHIMA ARTISTS ISSUE PART1

One of the reasons that I love Hiroshima is that there is so much art in this small town. Art here really has a warm feeling, versus the quite different feeling of commercialized art in the big towns. You can see the artists' personalities, and how they kick it, and I think that's why they are so cool. (Don't you think so?)
Actually there are so many artists who I want to introduce in this town that we're going to have this issue several times.
First off, we have 3 artists who are really famous and we're sure you've seen some of their work somewhere around town. CAY ART TRICKS, Mendel JONKERS, and "D" (who prefers to remain mostly anonymous, sorry) are artists that PEACE recommends.
Here are their interviews with some of their work.

CAY ART TRICKS

I've seen him drawing on a big white wall at a cafe once before. He put his hands directly into the paint cans, and started drawing with his hands. I could see a story coming up on the wall, and the drawing had a feeling of 'seasons' and 'a breeze' so a different atmosphere was being created in the place while he was drawing. You can see his work at many places, and you'll see - just like you see from this interview - all his work surprises us and always leaves us with the feeling of the colors of nature and its atmosphere. Most of his works are big and dynamic, but never overshadow the place. Here are just a few of his works.

Q : name
A : Kaisaku Kubo

Q : birthday
A : 1973.1.13

Q : When did you start your work?
A : I started drawing pictures when I was around 18. I got influenced from skateboard culture.

Q : Do you have any theme for your work?
A : I always hope my work makes people happy.

Q : Tell us about your most recent work.
A : I did a painting in India ink on a Japanese folding screen. I got a request from a Buddhist priest.

Q : From what (or where) do you usually get inspiration for your work?
A : Nature. (Plants, sky, flame, water, smoke etc.)

Q : Who influenced you most in your activities?
A : Ushio Shinohara, Dale Chihuly (a glass artist)

Q : What are the things or people that have interested you or have been getting your attention recently?
A : FUGU, and BMX.

Q : What is your favorite food, flower, and place to visit?
A : My wife's dishes, red and white flowers in the balcony of my house, Yunoyama hot spring (and the green Japanese rice cake served there!)

Q : Tell us about your future plans.
A : I want to do more wall painting or signboards that interest people and make them happy.

Q : Say anything!
A : Thank you!

CAY ART TRICKS

TEL : 090-3636-2312
e-mail : cay.arttricks@k6.dion.ne.jp

Mendel JONKERS

Mendel JONKERS is a tall and handsome man from Holland who can speak very good Japanese and has a good sense of humor, so I felt relaxed while I was taking pictures of his mirrors at SANSO. I was really into the smooth curves of his work. All of his pieces have a kind of warm living feeling even if they are made out of cold materials. The mirrors at SANSO do, too. A large mirror placed there can reflect 3 people sitting in front of it and these 3 people can also see each other in the mirror (that is his "trick"), so it might make you feel like you're looking into "another world" through the surface of water. He has made many wonderful things that I want to touch.

Q : name
A : Mendel JONKERS

Q : birthday
A : Halloween

Q : When did you start your work?
A : Since I could hold a hammer, which was at the age of four? No honestly, when I was really young I always liked making things. Somewhere down the line my hobbies became my work.

Q : Do you have any theme for your work?
A : I call myself a " Creator in Wood & Metal". I make anything from big interior design items to furniture, letter openers and some jewelry. But whatever I make I use real materials like varieties of wood, metals, glass, etc. In my new design style, " Space Nouveau" I make modern interior items but with a natural sense.

Q : Tell us about your most recent work.
A : Recently I finished my biggest work, and perhaps it's the biggest mirror frame in Hiroshima for the shop called SANSO. It's about 2.8 meters wide and a very unique design. Go and check it out!

Q : From what (or where) do you usually get inspiration for your work?
A : I get my inspiration from observing nature. Like plants, animals, shells, etc. Or human feelings.

Q : Who influenced you most in your activities?
A : When I was younger my parents supported me a lot and particularly I learned a lot from my Dad. Now, it's just me, myself and I.

8Q : What are the things or people that have intersted you or have been getting your attention recently?
A : 1. Whether I should go back to Holland and work with my father or not. 2. The Austin powers costume I wore at the Halloween Party!

Q : What is your favorite food, flower, and place to visit?
A : food Kaiseki ryori, you get many different small dishes of lovely Japanese food.Flower Orchid or other strange tropical flowers.Place Beach

Q : Tell us about your future plans.
A : Gradually I want to expand what I'm doing. Trying to set up my own brand and get my interior design items in the shops, here in Japan and in various other countries, too. Basically I hope I can create (or make a contribution to) a better world through my works.

Q : Say anything!
A : I specialise in making custom/ order-made items to match the customer's individual needs. So, if you're looking for something truly unique and original, an only 1 in the world item, come talk to me. Also I'd be interested to get in touch with other artist/ designers and would appreciate anybody introducing me to those people. Feel free to call or mail me and catch ya around on the streets and clubs of Hiroshima.

Mobile Jonkers

TEL : 090-2865 0804
e-mail : Mendel@fureai-ch.ne.jp
web: www.kgwagner.com/mendel

An artist who I love

"D" is really calm and always nice and polite to everybody, but he is hard on himself.　I just love his work, but he always says "I'm not good". When I saw him with a sketchbook at a club, drawing people there, I realized then how much he loves drawing. But he sometimes looks pained about his work.I don't know why.
I take pictuers and I love it, but sometimes taking photograghs is arduous. Is that why I think he also feels pain when he's doing his work?
You can see a big piece of his at a cafe called "Kemby's", and you'll understand why I love his work so much. (From the Editor)