GROOVISIONS
Ako: I would like to ask about your business. Do you have many business related to films, too?
Ito: Yes, we have film works, too. But most of them are peculiar.
Hara: Such as preview films for movies.
Ito: Well, no matter what kind of works, including films, basically we think that everything is design.
Chibashi: So, do you think your main business are printing materials?
Ito: Definitely, printings. Well, I understand business is important but my main concern which I feel more important is how to maintain the environment and condition we have had, since we are going to work together. Especially me myself has just moved from Kyoto, and the new life in Tokyo is totally from zero. So it’s very important for me how we make daily money with dragging and how we have good time together. (ha ha) I’m not thinking of being famous nor making a lot of money, at all.
Hara: Well, if we could make such a money, we might think “What shall we buy next”. (ha ha)
Ito: Let’s say “I’m gonna buy a tiny neat thing.” .(ha ha)
Ako: Everybody in “groovisions” likes shopping. (ha ha). I like your such behaviour.
Hara: Now a day, we don’t even have time to go shopping, though.
Ito: I think we ain’t so positive and plus thinking people. I mean we are good at subtraction. Especially Hara and me are the type of people whose way of creating is a lot of subtraction. And I guess this kind of way appears on our attitudes toward to our lives. (ha ha)
Chibashi: Is there any relationship between your negative thinking and that you shifted your field from Modern and Contemporary Art to Design?
Ito: Well…, in fact, you can’t feed yourself (with doing Arts). Those academic and romantic arts are good enough in books. Let’s say, Andy Warhol painted so many pictures of famous people and also sold so many, which appears to me the sale was a part of his arts, isn’t this laughable ? I would rather be in sympathy with this and him.
Hara: I think one’s range of vision would be narrowed or limited, if he or she only thought of Modern/Contemporary Art and/or Fine Arts all the time. For us, Music and Fine Arts are same, for example we read a book about Modern Arts, and at the same time, we listen to the House Music which sings “Love”, “Free” and so. It’s harsh without these.
Ako: Lastly, I would like to ask whom you (“groovisions”) have been influenced by?
Ito: Mr.Shindo is the person. I felt he was more extreme and radical than Modern & Contemporary Arts. But maybe, I have got more influences from books and things…
Hara: I think Mr.Konishi’s influence has been great on us.
Ito: Yes, it’s true. There are three major things I was influenced. One is Punks, and second one is New Academism. (ha ha) Then third one is Shibuya Kei(=line). I like movements, I guess. Since I’m a easy going person, if any movement came around, I would join it. (ha ha)
Hara: But, at the last moving, you threw New Academicism away, didn’t you? (ha ha)
Text: Ako
Translation: Satoru Tanno