AYAKO MOGI

PEOPLE1997.3.25Text: Chibashi

Once when I was discussing something with an artist, I talked about a subject somehow that each artist has one technique. The artist stated that he wanted to represent with a diverse range of techniques. Strictly speaking, using a diverse range of techniques could mean it is the only one technique of him?

In essence, modern artists tend to construct their own methodologies, trying to be unique and original, which I think I must admit…

An artist called Ayako Mogi, it seems to me that she does not even care about the matter above, floating free around everywhere. She always has a gap between her own creativity and others’. Almost nobody knows exactly what she represent in art. So, mass media can not clearly define her.

For the time being, she has been introduced as someone who takes photos on mass media level. I asked her (who was just about to go abroad) for an interview on the phone. Who is she? What does she do?

As far as I know, you were awarded the first prize (by Nobuyoshi Araki) in the fifth New Century of Photography (Shashin Shin Seiki), now you photograph for sub-culture-oriented magazines and CD jackets, working as a visual artist. Recently, you made a work collection consisted of a video work “In the couch” (20min) and a booklet (80p).
As I look through your profile, you left both the department of graphic at Musashino Junior College of Art and the department of design at Tokyo University of Art.

First, do you think yourself of as a photographer, or a visual artist?

Actually, I’d not like to be categorized into a certain field, although people just believe I am supposed to be working as a photographer. But, I don’t think I’m a photographer at all. Let’s say… visualist.

I majored in (visual work) at university (Tokyo Univ of Art). Students are supposed to do ever-existing video-installation all the time, which I think is too academic. When I tried to create something new at university, professors didn’t like me doing something different. So, I left those university and junior college.

After all, you don’t want to be hooked to what is academic and already categolised.

That’s right. I always start creating my works with images occurring to my mind. Then, with the intuition, I spontaneously connect what comes up on my mind not logically but instinctively.

Then, those who logically see your works can misunderstand them.

Let it be up to them. It can’t be helped.

Can I ask you some very basic questions? Why do you express as a visualist? Who do you release the works towards?

Yes, I believe it seems to be very important to keep my works remain as substances, as I am to disappear (to die) someday. Although my way of creating is not constructive and categorized, which makes my works prone to misunderstanding, I still want to provide a stimulus with who share the same sensibility as mine.