I hear you have been influenced by Hip-hop culture like a film “WILD STYLE”. Do you find any similarity between Ukiyoe and Hip-hop culture? If so, what is it?

I think break dance whih requires lots of skills is very close to Nihonga among 4 elements of Hip-Hop. (Rap, DJ, Break dance, Graffiti) Nihonga is also required trained high skills. This is something you cannot learn in a short period of time becomes forceful energy and gives people deep impressions. Modern Art tend to make light of this kind of technique since Duchamp. Or I can say there is a magic replacing and discarding it. I have a fancy that we are losing the nature of beauty.

What is the enchantment of Japanese culture for you?

There is something Iki. (A traditional aesthetic ideal in Japan)

” The Noble Samurai ” from Illustrated Scroll of Defiant Staire 2006 © Hisashi Tenmyouya

How do you shape your ideas when you think of motif of your work?

Every idea comes down from the heaven. I’m kidding. (laugh)

So, is there anything that grabbed your interest recently, which you are considering to take into your work?

I had never really had an interest in nature before, but now I am attracted to nature such as mountains and rivers, trees and weeds. Also I am intrigued by the smell of the air, the stream of river, and the sound of insects. I am interested in nature we have in Japan and things that bring up people’s memories of the past. I sometimes imagine that my gene as a Japanese is making me feel this way. Someday in the future, I might consider taking and adopting this feeling that I had somehow into my work.

Descent of the Dragon God (in process) © Hisashi Tenmyouya

For the future, how do you want to work on?

My intention is to dig down to the depth and moreover, to grip on Japan.

KAMON / TENMYOUYA HISASHI
Specification: 21.0 x 29.0 cm
Release date: November, 2007
ISBN: 978-4-903267-64-7
Price: 3,990 yen
Published by King of Mountain
Tel: +81 (0)3 3693 7070
http://www.kamondesign.com