Interview by Jimon

1-What is your earliest childhood memory of making art?  When I was a child, the most enthusiastic ones were the heroes of “Ultraman”, “Masked Rider”, “Godzilla”, etc. like many children.  I was fascinated by the villains and monsters, not to mention the protagonists.  Perhaps the first original painting I drew is the original monster I imagined.  Even now some of them are saved.  The influence from the TV and movies at that time is definitely still present.  I do not know if this is an art, but it is clear that this was the beginning.

2-What did your path to becoming an artist look like? No answer.

3-Where did you grow up and how did that affect you as an artist? I am Japanese and living in Japan.  Ukiyo-e and Buddha statues have greatly influenced me without being aware of it. Something I noticed after I became an adult.

4-Where do you currently live and create? Still in Yokohama, Japan.

5-How would you describe yourself as an artist? I will not explain myself.

6-Do you have motto on how to live life?  I try not to have a motto.

7- Is there any reality behind the characters in your paintings or are they purely fantasy?  All fantasy.

8- What influences you as an artist? Everything in life.

9-Do you have a place/person/thing that you visit for inspiration?  For me everything in life is an inspiration.

10-When you are not painting where would someone find you? The room next door.

11-If a movie was to be made about your life, ideally where would it take place and who would be the actor playing your part?  Godard would decide who is good to play me.

12- How do you describe success as an artist? No answer.

13- Name three things you can’t live without in your studio? I have no such studio.  My studio is generally called kitchen.  Let me smoke a cigarette until the paint dries.

14- If you could have dinner with 3 artists living/dead who would be at your table? Katsushika Hokusai, Kumagusu Minakata, Michelangelo

15-How would someone find you on Social media? Instagram @iauaiau

Facebook @itaru.shimamura