ART&CULTURE / 2022.11.22

SEIJI MATSUMOTO EXHIBITION "Fun!" Interview with Seiji Matsumoto (1/3)

Are you happy? Are you crazy? Are you surprised? Sage Matsumoto is an artist known for the "Nice's ANDY" series with a slightly strange expression. At the exhibition "Fun!", which is currently being held in two spaces, SPACE 14 and SkiiMa Gallery in Shinsaibashi PARCO, not only simple and pop paintings, but also the first video work in a figure of about 1m. According to Mr. Matsumoto, it is "the culmination of the present time".

Interview & Text

Yusuke Nakamura

Photo

Yuji Iwai

―First of all, could you tell us your enthusiasm for the exhibition?

Matsumoto: I'm from Osaka, but since this is my first solo exhibition in Osaka, do you say I'm passionate about it (laughs). I'm really excited.

―What is the "All-Most" described in the flyer?

Matsumoto: Not only paintings, but also graphics and illustrations. It means "all the height" in the sense of displaying everything I have done so far. The 14th floor displays 41 works, and the 4th floor displays works so far.

―It's a culmination so far?

Matsumoto: The activity history is still short, but it is the culmination of the moment.

―『Fun!』 At the exhibition, you can enjoy Matsumoto's pop world from various angles. Some of them are the first attempt, video work.

Matsumoto: The video is based on the experience of producing animations in corporate TV commercials. Also, there are a lot of goods this time, but I've been a designer of children's clothing in the past. This solo exhibition is based on my experience so far.

―This is the first series "Nice ANDY" released in 2017, which is also the key visual of the 2nd anniversary event of Shinsaibashi PARCO. Could you tell us how this was born? I was born when Matsumoto lived in New York.

Matsumoto: That's right. I went to New York without anything, so at first I was looking for a place to exhibit. One day, I was supposed to be exhibited in a small space in Grand Central. What should I do there? When I was thinking, I found a mouse on the subway.

―A sympathy?

Matsumoto: Come on. Many people may think that rats are uncomfortable, but at that time, I was quietly working in New York. That's why I was able to sympathize with myself by repeating myself with the mouse running on the subway track.

Key visuals of "Shinsaibashi PARCO 2nd Anniversary Fair" designed by Mr. Matsumoto

―What's the name ANDY?

Matsumoto: This is the name of the dog that my roommate kept in New York. It's a dog that was always next to me when I was painting.

―You can see moving ANDY in the video work.

Matsumoto: How fast does ANDY move in animation? How do you run? What's the difference? I thought a lot of things. I think characters can show their character by movement.

―I'm sure.

Matsumoto: Until now, the face was only painted diagonally from the front, so I feel that this time the blurry part of the character ANDY has been solidified. It's a coincidence.

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