Now is the time on PaperCuts when we dance. And fight giant monsters from outer space. Then, when that’s all done and the world is safe again, we flip the music back on and kick out one last celebratory shimmy.
Where the Giant Beastie Robo-Machine pulled it’s inspiration from “Giant Robo” (ジャイアントロボ ) and the Kaiju monster movies, the Boys’ look is equal parts Japanese construction worker and Super Sentai (スーパー戦隊). If you live outside Japan, you might be more familiar with the Super Sentai in their US form as the “Power Rangers”, a show which kept the battle scenes from the original production, and changed pretty much everything else. The dance moves in the video parody the theatrical attack poses of the Super Sentai. I dove back even further in time to the 60′s (Super Sentai started in ’75) for this pose, using the classic Ultraman ウルトラマン battle posture. When you’re wearing a silvery rubber suit, you need a funky pose to get your point across. Read the rest of this entry »
“Natsukashii” is my favorite word not in the english language. It pulls together the feeling of the word “nostalgic” with “Oh wow, I haven’t done/seen THAT in ages!” with a dash of “That takes me back”. All in a one word expression. Say it with a sigh of longing as you flip through your yearbook. Squeal it in delight as you ride a roller coaster for the first time since you were 10 years old. Mumble it through a satisfied mouthful of your mom’s apple pie. It is my favorite Japanese word.
Not only did the video itself bring me back to a younger age, but the retro feel of the video called back to the Japanese Kaiju monster movies of the 1960′s. After a little bit of research, I was thrilled to find out that the main inspiration for the video was “Giant Robo” (ジャイアントロボ ), known in the US as Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot.
That’s when the tidal wave of natsukashii really slammed into me. I knew this robot. Oh sure, the haziness of time had made me think that it was a Godzilla flick, and that the robot had looked like Ultraman, but I clearly remembered watching the last few minutes of the show on TV. It was the first time my childish brain crashed into the idea that a hero could die.
As for the piece itself, it is one of the biggest cut-paper projects I’ve made yet. Not only is there a big ol’ robot, but there are two smaller pieces as well. Both the Beastie Boys Power Ranger type guy and the Tentacle-faced baddy can be attached to the Giant Robot’s chest. Kinda like a transformer, but with no vehicle shape and a whole lot more funkiness.
A surprisingly huge amount of time went into figuring out how to attach the smaller pieces to the big one. At first I had hoped to use magnets. It would have been simple, easy, clean, and downright appropriate. Sadly, the smaller pieces kept sliding off. Back to the hardware store(s) I went. In the end, I found a nice combination bolt + washer + hook set which did the job nicely. And I’ve got to admit, the bolts look awesome on the mechanical man. I wish they showed up better in the photograph. I feel the same about the gold-sheened designs in the shoulder pads and feet. I found a great piece of washi paper that lent itself perfectly to the effect I was going for.
For an idea of how it all came together, here’s a detail of the robo-noggin:
And a poor, blurry pic of the three pieces joined to make the even-more-super “Giant Beastie Robo Machine and His Cosmic Friends”.
February’s group show in Ginza, Tokyo opens on February 12th, and I expect it to be a fantastic time with some wonderful art. This will be the second time I’ve had the privilege to show with my good friend Patrick Washburn, and the first I’ve shown with a whole host of other talented folk.
Love Winter Tokyo is actually a group of similarly themed shows spanning 9 galleries. The shows all have different running times, with the earliest opening on 2.9 and the latest closing on 2.20. Be sure to check out the official website to find out the specific details for each gallery. Be aware, it’s all in Japanese, but some of the individual galleries will have english translations.
The details (for my small contribution):
Name: Love Winter Tokyo 開催
Place: Gallery G2
Ginza, Tokyo
ph. 03-3567-1555
東京都中央区銀座2-8-2日紫ビル1F
Dates: February 12, 2009 / 2009年2月12日（木 Thurs.）〜17日（火 Tues.）
Time: 12:00〜19:00（closes at 4pm on the 17th / 最終日は16:00まで）
I will be at the gallery on Sunday 2/15 and Tuesday 2/17. If you know when you plan on visiting, email me and I’ll make sure I’ll be there waiting for you. Stop by and check out some great art!
