HITOTZUKI (Kami and Sasu) - sun and moon, plus and minus, men´s and women´s world, partners in live and also at work; Kami sings on the traditional japanese Caligraphy and Sasu paints symetrical blows reminding budhistic mandalas; you see the Japan on the first view.






HITOTZUKI (KAMI+SASU) - interview
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1. Hitotzuki project consist of two people Kami and Sasu. Please, could you introduce yourself and tell us something about how you work together?

"Hitotzuki" means sun and moon, it's like a plus and the minus, female and male, it differs in certain ways but at the same time it fuses together and makes a whole. Those are the things that can be seen on murals, installations, performances through our work and is also within our lifestyle.

We have been collaborating since 1999. We got married in 2003 and because we lived together, from then on, we both naturally did more work together. And that is when we started working under the name HITOTZUKI.

2. I can find inspiration in calligraphy and old traditional Japanese landscapes in lines of Kami. Sasu, you paint symmetrical colorful ornaments which evoke Buddhist mandalas. Did you study this type of art in past?

We both did not study but...

Kami: There was a calligraphy class that we had to take back in school. I was also raised in Kyoto where I was surrounded by the historic buildings (temples) and nature. So, I think my work is naturally influenced by the environment that I grew up in. Also my inspiration is influenced by the graffiti/street art that I was exposed to when I skated.

Sasu: I started off drawing symmetrically. After that I started to pay closer attention to Buddhist Mandalas and such thing as snow crystals.
The same time I got into yoga, which help in the concentration that I use to draw symmetrically this is a spiritual process that is reflected my work. My work shows all the emotions that I am feeling and also my imaginations.

3. Can I ask about your religion (if you are faithful) and the relation to your art?

We both do not have specific religion that we follow however we look at all religions; we get inspired by them and the spiritual foundations.

Kami: I don’t have a specific religion but I think that the traditional Japanese way of life naturally effects us on a daily bases. And the traditions that have lived on have been blended together with the modern. And that has created my work of art.

Sasu: I, personally do not belong to any religion, however; I was raised in the house that was past onto us by my ancestors. We had family Buddhist altar and a shrine in our backyard that protected our house. I grew up watching my grandmother praying every day.
There also was a temple near by our house that I used to go play at. I think the traditions naturally rubbed off on me.
I also like to look at churches and interested in other religions and cultures as well. I mean, I think it’s just everything that is around me that relates to my art work at the end. It’s from the cute Japanese characters that I used to like when I was little to, just simple things, cute, beautiful to everything…My work can have a deeper meaning or simply nothing at all…

4. You work a lot in galleries, you are respected artists. But you also paint in open spaces. Do you have any experiences with classical graffiti? Could you describe the opinion of Japanese public to street art and graffiti?

Kami: I first discovered Graffiti through skateboarding, the very first time I did was in 1993, and I was in my teens. During that time, there weren’t many things that could be called “Graffiti” where I grew up. If I think about it…it was mostly tagging from Bosozoku, biker gangs (a lot different from the image from the western society). Back then, I was influenced by the pictures of Graffiti from the US that I saw when I read through the Skate magazine. That was all…there really wasn’t any other way. I just tagged and did throw ups by the way I saw it. In Tokyo, I believe there were couple of crews that just started forming, but I think they just saw some scribble and tried to make forms out of it, it was just a tool of communicating with others…

Sasu: I also started off using spray can out of curiosity...I see it as it was one of a methods of experimenting ways to do what we do now. Like a process or a step to a next level of things.
Compared to other countries, we think that the Japanese still have a long way to go in recognizing street art and graffiti.

Kami: These days you can see Graffiti everywhere in Japan. Most of the people know it’s illegal, but some may see it as art. It doesn’t mater illegal or legal, work that are done beautifully brings out communications within others.
I currently leave my work in galleries and also in public spaces, by doing so I believe that people can feel art in a closer form as well as in their daily life. And if that brings more communications within one another, I think there should be more…
Sasu: Like in the States, if some stars are in a rehab for drugs, they don’t quite make a big deal out of, but in Japan, if some under age idol was smoking, they get their contract cut off, and if the train was 5min late, then there would be a biggest claim and make the news. I’m not saying that good or bad, I’m just saying that there are many different things from one country to the other. And because of that the growth of knowledge towards street are and graffiti is different.
Whether it’s in the gallery or anywhere, I think it’s best to just have fun. To have that pure feeling…


5. What do you know about Praha? And what do you want to see and do here?

We heard it is a beautiful place. We will like to go sight-seeing, eat, and experience the culture. Take in as much as we can.

Kami: AND, I will like to drink BEER! We heard that it's pretty good there.

Sasu: Going to Prague for the first time and bringing the baby that I just gave birth to in May is going to be a new challenge for me. I will like to do a great job on the painting and make lots of great memories.



Links:
http://www.hitotzuki.com