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Magic of Japan Week 2014 at The Magic Castle came and went and it was totally rad. And not just because I got to hang out with two kick-ass magicians from Japan and take some pictures inside a camera-free club. No, it was awesome because it was the same as it always is: a claustrophobic, creepy, and uncool members-only spot where you can see close-up, irony-free tricks and illusions performed by magicians for magicians. You need to know one to gain entry to the enigmatic mansion at the base of the Hollywood Hills. This time, the talent just happened to be from Japan.
In a small crowded area in downtown LA, Takashi Murakami said, “It’s like when I first saw Giant Robot magazine in New York.” It’s been years since I’ve spoken with Murakami who in between our last meetings, has gone from superstar to megastar, from world wide artist and now filmmaker. I’m not sure which is greater, but he’s the bigger one. Takashi Murakami was the subject of a Q and A at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles. The brightly lit marquee spelled out his name as if he were a movie or a band. A line of many recognizable art fans formed outside an hour early. Over 1400 tickets were sold to see him speak with Pico Iyer, an author of ten books who has lived in Japan for decades. It’s part of the Broad series of talks which features interviews with artists and is a powerful set up for their own up-and-coming museum in downtown LA across from MOCA. Pre-talk, I got to go to the upstairs vip area. Mark Ryden, Eli Broad, Murakami, Tim Blum and a crew of artists I’ve had the pleasure to work with, hang out. Takashi appeared with his mini convoy. Translator, photographer, and perhaps assistant. It was nice to catch up with Takashi, and it went into a blur. It was a conversation about our lives. It was nice to see him continue his hustle and still be chill. He’s obviously hit that mark where he can be an otaku and a goofy guy wearing a plush pink hat. He can say what he feels, do what he wants, and still be part of art history. He’s wise enough to know that he doesn’t have to care so much. Do people need to love him, do people still think he’s a heel, does it matter? No. I don’t think so. Joanne Heyler Curator of the Broad Hug photos-don’t like them, but this one works, maybe because it’s blurry. These days, he makes giant art pieces including one that’s 100 meters long. His studio is still gigantic, he still has tons of minions, and he’s still hard working. He’s splitting art time with cinema, which is obvious after seeing his short pieces like the Inochi interstitials and his Louis Vuitton animation. The talk spanned his personal history, his work with the art establishment in Japan, Fukushima and his own giving back to art. It barely scraped the surface on topics that can be extrapolated into hour long conversations. He mentions that his helpers basically say “fuck you” when a project is done and they’re disgruntled and leaving his “factory”. He mentions that his job is to say “no” and not be satisfied which is basically buying him time to perhaps say “yes” after everything is done and each possible avenue is explored. It’s that drive that makes him Murakami. Most won’t understand, and that’s for the better. Talks like this often go too fast, and the fella who held up the 5 minutes...
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giant robot time: 5.30.14 | art by: yoskay yamamoto Game Over June 7 – June 18 Reception: Saturday, June 7, 6:30-10 PM Giant Robot, Angry Bananas, Destructoid and Meatbun is proud to present GAME OVER – Art Inspired by Games. It’s not just an art exhibition, it’s also a Game Night. Imagine seeing art but also trying out some of the games made by equally talented designers! It’s happening. Experience, KYOTO WILD by Teddy Diefenbach is a 4 player weapons battle, SCRATCH RACE by Messhof is a one button velodrome racing game, and experience Ben Vance’s THE PACK with Art by Rob Sato. Artists Include: Aaron Brown, Alex Chiu, Andrew Hem, Bert Gatchalian, Brian Luong, Caitlin Anne, Cam Floyd, Candie Bolton, Cassia Lupo, Chris Mostyn, Cory Schmitz, Dan Goodsell, Danni Shinya, Edward Robin Coronel, Elliot Brown, Enky Skulls, Eric Nyquist, Gary Musgrave, Hawk krall, James Kochalka, Jen Tong, Jeni Yang, Jeremiah Ketner, Jerome Lu, Jesse Tise, Joey Chou, Jon Lau, kaNO kid, Ken Taya, Kenneth Wong, Kerry Horvath, Kevin Luong, Kiyoshi Nakazawa, Koshin Finley, Kwanchai Moriya, Leah Chun, Lena Sayadian, Lucky Nakazawa, Luke Chueh, Mari Inukai, Mari Naomi, Mariel Cartwright, Mark Nagata, Martin Hsu, Mike Kuo, Minion Me, Miso, Nick Arciaga, Nidhi Chanani, Omo Cat, Peter Kato, Ray Young Chu, Rina Ayuyang, Roland Tamayo, Ronald J. Llanos, Ryan Crippen, Ryan Jacob Smith, Sana Park, Sara Saedi, Scott Bakal, Sean Norvet, Shawn Cheng, Shiho Nakaza, Shihori Nakayama, Stasia Burrington, Theo Ellsworth, Tyson Hesse, Wayne Johnson + even more. Gama-Go [1] Origami Crane LED Light [2] Stache Straws [3] Fingerstache Temporary Tattoos [4] Bite Me Bottle Opener Totoro & Kodama Plushes Straight from your favorite Hayao Miyazaki films! Prints Takashi Murakami Commemorate Murakami’s visit to L.A. by picking up a print! Adventure Time Vinyl Figure & Tin Funko 8 possible tins, 12 possible figures. The Group with Takashi Murakami Post Meal By GIANT ROBOT NEWS Check out our Twitter feed for photos, updates, and more! >> GR2: Krom Kendama Night Photos By ERIC Thanks to Thorkild May, Mathias Steen, Philip Eldridge and the crew of kendamaists who made it out. We’ll be doing this once in a while and we hope to see you there! >> Q&A with Kevin Seconds on Leave a Light On (Brand-new 7 Seconds!) By MARTIN Needless to say, I was all over a chance to ask Kevin about the new 7Seconds LP, his most recent acoustic work, and just plain making passionate, powerful music for 34 years and counting. Maybe next time I’ll ask him about his painting… >> 2015 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025 2062 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025
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The new 7Seconds album is awesome. It’s one thing to hear kids singing exuberant, straight-from-the-heart punk songs about walking together and rocking together. It’s another to hear adults who not only cling to the idealism and activism but rip at the art of hardcore after 30 years. Songs like “Exceptional” and “Slogan on a Shirt” are at once tangible and humble yet experienced and intelligent. And while certain lyrics hint at being weary (“Who wants to be sequestered in Another State of Mind?” ), there are no signs of being jaded. I love the dream sequence in “Heads Are Bound To Roll” in which The Clash plays one last show and Kevin gets to sing “Death or Glory” with them. Meanwhile, the hyper melodic title song “Leave a Light On” can be as literal or poetic as you want–perhaps a side effect of Kevin Seconds’ acoustic gigs between 7Seconds releases and shows.
Needless to say, I was all over a chance to ask Kevin about the new 7Seconds LP, his most recent acoustic work, and just plain making passionate, powerful music for 34 years and counting. Maybe next time I’ll ask him about his painting…
K-pop has been establishing a New World Order for the past few years, infiltrating youth culture across the globe with easy to recreate group choreography, anorexia inspiration, fashion less freaky than Harajuku girls, and daring men’s hairstyles that capture 90s goth girl chic. In Mongolia, boys get haircuts (and dye-jobs) to look like Korean stars, and girls memorize lyrics and dance moves to perform chart topping songs. Politicians and culture keepers here bemoan the proliferation of K-pop and all it brings with it. They say the dramas (there’s bound to be a show dubbed in Mongolian airing on at least three tv channels at any given time) have negative themes about family and the fashions are objectionable, but they’re probably just sick of hearing their grandkids play the same Girls Generation song on their Samsung Galaxy over and over and over. Outside of the Asia-Pacific region, Brazil has taken to K-pop in a big way, fueled by the internet and international Korean television channels. Pre-dating PSY, K-pop has been a profitable South Korean export that’s helped keep the domestic music industry afloat. Massive concerts, fan conventions, and websites worhsipping K-pop and its ever-changing favorites are growing in number. The Korea Herald shares this story about a Brazilian K-pop fan who just carried out the inevitable, undergoing plastic surgery to look like his “Oriental” idols. In your reconstructed FACE, Korean cosmetic surgery industry!!
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