GR: Welcome to Southern California. Tell me about your new place and your working studio set up situation?

Thank you very much. I currently live in the South Bay with some fellow artists including Aaron “Angry Woebots” Martin and Mathew Curran, a fellow North Carolinian that made the cross country move with me.  We have a converted loft in the back of our house where we can paint, cast resin and sculpt amongst other things, all to facilitate the different types of projects that each of us might be working on. It’s definitely a change from being in NC where I was essentially working in an artistic vacuum on my own – being amidst many artists that inspire me has definitely given me a new-found appreciation for being able to share techniques, offer and receive critiques and have constant constructive feedback.

GR: This exhibition features pieces that are fully sculpted and not customized. Is this a new direction? Will you still customize?

For this particular show I wanted to focus more on form, rather than the narrative or emotive qualities in many of my previous pieces. Although I am often recognized for being a part of the toy customizing scene, I prefer to create original sculptures for shows where I have the opportunity to showcase a larger body of work, work that is not contingent upon modifying or customizing existing base platforms.  That said, I will still participate in customizing shows depending on if I feel that I can create a piece that is fundamentally sound in theme and execution.

GR: Animals are an obvious theme this time out, yet it’s not limited by mammals, insects or reptiles, yet there’s a common bond between them. Can you talk about how you chose which animals to depict? 

I chose to call this body of work “Biorgasmica”, a study of what it would be like to meld various elements of baroque stylings, the human face and the shape of various creatures together.  When determining what animals I wanted to involve, it mostly came down to animals where I could envision how those disparate elements could more easily coalesce into one cohesive creature.  The final roster of creatures tended to be those that were organically armored, whether with a carapace or scales, or those that had body shapes that would lend themselves to the incorporation of faces or detailing.

GR: Also explain what process you went through to create these works. It’s hard to tell what material you’re using. 

I primarily sculpted the creatures from scratch using a two part epoxy resin and/or polymer clay, incorporating metal findings/decorative designs and filigree to accent.  For the jellyfish, the clear dome was vacuum formed plastic.

After each creature was chosen, I created the internal armature with wire and then laid down a base layer of epoxy material for the basic shape. The next step was to refine the bodies with more epoxy and add detailing such as scales and faces. The last step was to detail them with the metal findings and finally painting, both with a matte black and then painted gloss.

GR: While you work on various ventures, is being a full time artist the ultimate goal for you?

I am most interested in plaintive emotive and narrative elements in art. To that end, I consider my using sculpture as just one method to help convey those things. Whether I paint or sculpt, write or record, I will always want to be a storyteller first, and then determine which medium would be best suited in order to most accurately convey those ideas in my head.  I would love the opportunity to continue creating art for shows or products but knowing myself, I will always also continue to explore all the things that interest me outside of that realm as well.

Thanks much to Toysrevil for stringing together these images.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Art Exhibition at GR2

Waiting – Eishi Takaoka

May 25 – Jun 12, 2013
Opening reception Saturday May 25th 2012, 6:30-10pm

GR2 – 2062 Sawtelle Blvd LA, CA 90025 www.gr2.net 310 445 9276

Giant Robot 2 (GR2) presents: Waiting

Solo exhibition by Eishi Takaoka

We’re not changing a thing.

“Although the sculptures of Eishi Takaoka all portray the same serene expression, their outwardly calm façade belies a world of bottled-up emotions. With nowhere to go, these intense feelings manifest themselves in outlandish formations that sprout out of the top of each figure’s head. The uniquely sculpted heads of Takaoka are rooted in a personal fantasy world that is fueled by the emotional ups and downs of daily life in lower-middle class Japan. He instills his frustration with life in Kagoshima and feelings of isolation into each of the pieces, which are comprised of carved wood painted with raw mineral pigments placed atop empty glass medicine bottles.”

Takaoka’s pieces have been seen in group shows including the Giant Robot Biennale I and III, and on the cover of novelist Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore.

For this exhibition, Takaoka will create new sculptures at Giant Robot 2 in Los Angeles. He is currently attending school in his hometown of Kagoshima, Japan and will not be in Los Angeles for the opening.

For any information:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 445-9276

video by Tony Sugano

Out of the Films

April 27 – May 2, 2013 – ONE WEEK EXHIBITION 

A solo exhibition of works by director, Iwai Shunji.

“Generally, people call me a Director or Filmmaker. However I feel like I’m just a kid who’s having fun. I like drawing, taking photos, writing novels and composing music. This time, I focused on pictures I drew. Please enjoy them.”

The exhibition will feature some story board art, drawn by Iwai as well as some of his photographs. Iwai Shunji is scheduled to appear in person at the exhibition reception.

For any other information on or about the artist or anything else contact Eric Nakamura at Giant Robot.

IWAI SHUNJI – Out of the Films

April 27 – May 2, 2013 – ONE WEEK EXHIBITION 

Opening Reception:
Saturday, April 27, 2013
6:30 – 10:00 PM
GR2
2062 Sawtelle Boulevard
Los Angeles CA 90025
http://gr2.net/

eric (at) giantrobot.com

 

* James Kochalka artwork will be available today at ~5pm pst CAROLYN SUSUKI — ASSORTED CARDS Carolyn Suzuki designs the cutest cards around. Show your loved ones you care and have good design sense. TAKASHI MURAKAMI — ASSORTED GOODS A new exhibition by Takashi Murakami will be opening in Los Angeles later this month!   TOKIDOKI — UNICORNO BLIND BOX The Unicornos were once 11 little ponies that were out trotting and wandered into a magic waterfall. COLOR INK BOOK — VOLUME 16 Color the drawings of your favorite contemporary artists. COMETBUS #54 IN CHINA WITH GREEN DAY 2 Aaron Cometbus, a roadie for Green Day in their early indie punk days, rejoins the band on the road after nearly twenty years and heads to Asia. RADON RAVIS FRISTOE & AARON COMETBUS Radon was a ’90s punk band whose legend stretched from Tallahassee to Boca Raton. ZIP HOPS — ZIPPER PULL Random assortment of either microphone, boom box, turntable, mixing board, or headphones! GAMA-GO — BITE ME BOTTLE OPENER This stainless steel vampire teeth bottle opener is sure to allow you to quench your insatiable thirst.

]]> http://www.giantrobot.com/gr2/giant-robot-goods-4-9-13-matt-furie-mark-todd-artwork-now-available/feed/ 0 http://www.giantrobot.com/gr2/gr2-facial-recognition-reception/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gr2-facial-recognition-reception http://www.giantrobot.com/gr2/gr2-facial-recognition-reception/#comments Sun, 07 Apr 2013 20:49:06 +0000 Giant Robot News http://www.giantrobot.com/?p=42760 Facial Recognition Reception at GR2 was a fun night with an array of visitors.

That’s Matt Furie, Jeremy Fish, and Albert Reyes.

James Kochalka and frequent GR2 visitor, Flora.

Mark Todd and Crew, many are his students!

more pics below.

That’s Matt Furie and Aiyana Udesen measuring out the wall. Mark Todd… where are you?!