ART&CULTURE / 2024.01.05

TAPPEI | 『TAPPEI 3rd Solo Exhibition“BRAIN”』INTERVIEW (1/3)

TAPPEI  | 『TAPPEI 3rd Solo Exhibition“BRAIN”』INTERVIEW

Isn't it an exaggeration to say that you will be responsible for the tattoo culture of the new era? TAPPEI is a tattoo artist/graphic designer who is also known for his various collaborations. Currently, the first solo exhibition in Osaka is being held at SkiiMa Gallery on the 4th floor of Shinsaibashi PARCO. Its style is like a one-frame manga that mixes humor and synical. First of all, let's ask you how you were fascinated by tattoos.

  • Interview & Text
    Yusuke Nakamura
  • Photo
    Kazuki Watanabe

How did you get interested in tattoo?

 

TAPPEI: It's a movie I watched when I was little. The tattoo on the back that came out in the scene. The Japanese sculpture is simply cool.

 

I was in elementary school. Do you remember what kind of movie it was?

 

TAPPEI: I think it was in the lower grades of elementary school. The movie clearly remembers "Zatoichi" directed by Takeshi Kitano. It was a shock.

Do you want to draw a tattoo? Do you want to enter?

 

TAPPEI: At that time, I didn't know anything about tattoo, so what was that picture? I think I asked my parents. Later, in an outlaw book, I learned that there was a profession called a carver. Since I was convinced, I liked painting and thought it would be nice to continue drawing in the future, so I started thinking that I wanted to be a sculptor.

 

I've been fulfilling my dream since I was little.

 

TAPPEI: That's right. Now, I think that my grandfather was a physician and my parents were dentists, so I was interested in tattoos because I had been studying my body since I was little. Also, because it was a hard house, I think I was strongly attracted by the outlaw tattoos.

ー TAPPEI's style is completely different from the Japanese sculpture that was first shocked, the so-called Chinese lion peony and Hannya touch.

 

TAPPEI: I liked Japanese carving, and at first I saw various things, but when I was a high school student, I was a band or a skateboard. Under the influence of that culture. Even now, I think Japanese carving is of course cool, but it's too tattoo.

 

What is "tattoo" too much?

 

TAPPEI: I don't like things that are too beautiful. It can be understood that Japanese sculptures have been valued from overseas as a beauty of the whole body, and it's wonderful, but it's a tattoo that I like increases one by one. For example, it's close to the feeling of collecting figures. That's my style. The style is not only a humorous picture, but I've been drawing a lot so far. Because I was in the art college in Kobe.