FUGAHUM Vol.03, 08-09A/W, Spiral distortion

FUGAHUM is a fictional kingdom which you made up as an art project, pursuing a form of clothing that is a combination of fashion and art. Without limiting yourself as a fashion brand, what is your goal for FUGAHUM?

There is a strong commercial sense in the fashion industry and because of that, it is difficult fashion to be recognized as an art. Also, it is not easy for art to include mass elements into it as there is not enough platform in Japan. In fact, fashion and art head opposite direction each other. I think it is impossible to combine art and fashion in the true sense, but both art and fashion are created by artists who are equal to each other.

One thing I can say is that works and activities are later divided into genres by others, and I don’t think there will be created a new value as we fit into the current framework of fashion or art. It might be created from culture of the time or from the personal narrow sense of value.

As for art, even if a creator doesn’t intend to make an artwork, he/she will find out it will become a value-added artwork and then evoke multiple sympathy, that will be a new sense of value. We cannot define ourselves, but we are sure that we definitely don’t aim to create a popular fashion nor to work as art activity.

We don’t know how people understand about FUGAHUM and how it will be transformed by other’s senses. Well, it could be either gold mine or trash.

FUGAHUM Vol.04, 09S/S, Gradated kingdom

We heard that the project of FUGAHUM will be continued up to Volume 10. As you have presented 5 collections before and you are at the halfway , do you feel any changes compare to the past collections?

Through our creation of a ” fictional country”, we are naturally able to express the current world where we are. It’s similar to a sense that we native to Japan look back to our home town from out side of the country.