Sebastian Masuda

Japanese art director From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sebastian Masuda (増田 セバスチャン, Masuda Sebasuchan; born August 7, 1970), is a Japanese artist, art director, and producer of the Harajuku shop 6%DOKIDOKI. Born in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He has been active from 1995 to current day.[1][2]

Born (1970-08-07) August 7, 1970 (age 55)
OccupationsArtist, art director, and producer
Quick facts Born, Occupations ...
Sebastian Masuda
Sebastian Masuda at the 27th Annual Tokyo International Film Festival
Born (1970-08-07) August 7, 1970 (age 55)
OccupationsArtist, art director, and producer
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He has directed and designed performances for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu.[3][4] He is known as a pioneer of kawaii culture and often referred to as the "king of kawaii"[5] or "father of kawaii"[6]

Career

Masuda was born in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He began his career in the world of theater and contemporary art, but in 1995, Sebastian opened 6%DOKIDOKI in Ura-Harajuku.[7][8] Celebrities have visited 6%DOKIDOKI, including Conan O'Brien,[9] and clothing and accessories have been worn by BLACKPINK, and Nicki Minaj.[10][4]

He was the art director for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's Pon Pon Pon music video in 2011, which garnered international attention.[3][11] He designed the Kawaii Monster Cafe in Harajuku,[12][13] which had been a tourist destination, including visits from celebrities Kim Kardashian,[14] singer Dua Lipa and Jennie of K-pop’s Blackpink,[15] Sushidelic in SoHo, Manhattan, New York City,[16] and "Miracle Gift Parade" to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the opening of Sanrio Puroland.[17]

In 2014, he began his first solo exhibition Colorful Rebellion -Seventh Nightmare- in New York.[18]

In 2017, he was appointed as a Cultural Envoy by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and he has lived in the Netherlands while producing artwork, he has traveled to the African continent doing workshops and lectures.[19] He is a visiting professor for Kyoto University of Art and Design and Yokohama College of Art and Design.[20] He was also a visiting scholar at the Department of East Asian Studies at NYU[21]

Solo exhibitions

  • 2014「Colorful Rebellion –Seventh nightmare-」(Kianga Ellis Projects, New York February 28, 2014 – March 29, 2014) (Young At Art Museum, Miami July 12, 2014 – January 5, 2015) (Padiglione Visconti, Italy April 14, 2015 – April 19, 2015) (Terrada T-Art Gallery, Tokyo December 18 – 27, 2015) (Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam September 28, 2018 – September 1, 2019)[22]
  • 2015「TRUE COLORS」(T-Art Gallery, Tokyo)[23]
  • 2016 「TRUE COLORS」(Ronin Gallery, New York)[24]
  • 2017 「Point-Rhythm World -Monet's Microcosm- “」(POLA Museum of Art)[25]
  • 2017 「YOUR COLORS」(ROPPONGI HILLS A/D GALLERY)[26]
  • 2019 「FOREVER COLORS」(ROPPONGI HILLS A/D GALLERY)[27]

Group exhibitions

  • December 6, 2014  Time After Time Capsule in Miami[28]
  • May 3, 2015  Time After Time Capsule in NYC / Dag Hammarskjold Plaza[29][30]
  • November 13, 2015 – May 2016  Time After Time Capsule NY Hello Kitty meets Seattle / EMP Museum[31]
  • April 13–16 2016 Time After Time Capsule in Washington, D.C. / Japan Bowl, National Cherry Blossom Festival[32]
  • July 3, 2016  Time After Time Capsule in London / Camden Market North Yard[33][34]
  • July 7–10, 2016   Time After Time Capsule in Paris / Japan Expo[35]
  • July 23–24, 2016    Time After Time Capsule in San Francisco/J-POP SUMMIT[36]
  • November 26, 27, 2016  Time After Time Capsule in Singapore / Anime Festival Asia[37]
  • Nov 1, 2016 – Jan 29, 2017  Time After Time Capsule in Los Angeles / Japanese American National Museum[38]
  • May 14, 2017  Time After Time Capsule in NYC vol.2 / Japan Day at Central Park[39]
  • Oct. 13, 2017 – Ma 18, 2018  Time After Time Capsule in Alaska / ”The Art of Fandom” at Anchorage Museum[40]
  • November 26, 2017   Time After Time Capsule in Cape Town, South Africa / V&A Water Front[41]
  • November 30, 2017  Time After Time Capsule in Luanda, Republic of Angola / Angola National School of Arts
  • January 13, 2018   Time After Time Capsule in La Paz, Bolivia / Cinemateca Boliviana[42]
  • January 20, 2018  Time After Time Capsule in Sao Paulo, Brazil / Japan House[43]
  • 2017「The Doremon Exhibition TOKYO 2017」Mori Arts Center Gallery, Tokyo[44]
  • 2019「Gaping Hole Secret」Reborn Art Festival 2019[45]
  • 2020「Primal Pop (Pac-Man Mix)」The Museum of Pac-Man Art, Tokyo[46]
  • 2020「Gaping Hole Secret」Kurkku Fields, Japan[47]

References

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