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KAWAGUCHI Tetsuya
Born in Fukuoka in 1979. His first experience of the pressure that accompanies the creative process as a child whilst in a drawing art class. After graduating from university, he went on to attend CG college with a view towards learning more about the visual image, which had long been of particular interest to him. His most recent work is mainly concerned with the interplay of emotion and popularity in art. He is currently working on producing the DVD version of AKANEGUMO.
ASO Tazuko
Born in Kyoto in 1977. She first became interested in the expression of human bodies in the half-abstractive mode while she was studying Oil Painting at Kyoto University of Art and Design. She is currently most concerned with the art of achieving emotional expression through CG facial animation. This prize winning work was also her college graduation piece.
Thank you very much; we did not expect to receive a prize and so we are truly surprised. The intention behind the creation of Akanegumo was to present "living emotional expression", with particular respect to "what spectators find funny". In order to achieve this we decided to thread comedic aspects into our work. We were also very particular about the details of the piece, desiring through them to create a more natural atmosphere than is usually possible and a less obviously 3DCG work. Please feel free to laugh out loud.
The tense feeling when a boy at puberty tells his first love to a girl is depicted comically. This handsome footage is unique to CG. It is not easy to make people laugh; however, this work made it possible by using a group of Taiko drummers. In many cases, technical attainment tends to be the center of attention in CG production; however, this one-person work was evaluated for its firm understanding of such a context.
What kind of medium did you choose for your work when the first time you were aware of your "creation"?
KAWAGUCHI Tetsuya／
It's a pencil.
It's a pencil.
ASO Tazuko／
It was pencil and paper.
It was pencil and paper.
And, how old were you and what did you make?
KAWAGUCHI Tetsuya／
I think when I was about 5 or 6years old I was drawing flipbooks.
I think when I was about 5 or 6years old I was drawing flipbooks.
ASO Tazuko／
I was in the 6th grade of my elementary school. I was inspired by a friend of mine whose ambition was to become a manga artist; I began drawing pseudomanga pictures whilst sitting next to my friend.
I was in the 6th grade of my elementary school. I was inspired by a friend of mine whose ambition was to become a manga artist; I began drawing pseudomanga pictures whilst sitting next to my friend.
Do you have any consistent subject matter or theme through your works?
KAWAGUCHI Tetsuya／
Expression of sentiment.
Also I hope to create works that people can enjoy straightforward.
Expression of sentiment.
Also I hope to create works that people can enjoy straightforward.
ASO Tazuko／
My theme is the expression of the "Human body".. When I was using oil paintings as the means of my own expression, I realized that "of all the things that exist in the world, the human body is the most beautiful"; which was the beginning of my interest in it as subject matter. My intent is "to express myself through expression" and "to please people through the works".
My theme is the expression of the "Human body".. When I was using oil paintings as the means of my own expression, I realized that "of all the things that exist in the world, the human body is the most beautiful"; which was the beginning of my interest in it as subject matter. My intent is "to express myself through expression" and "to please people through the works".
When do you feel the connection with the technology in your creative activity?
What is the difference of the sense of Media Art from the one of traditional fine art?
KAWAGUCHI Tetsuya／
It's when I'm playing with my PC. If there is any similarity or difference between “Media Art” and already established “Art”, I think “Art” is something that can be meaningful within the self. On the other hand, “Media Art” needs popularity as well.
It's when I'm playing with my PC. If there is any similarity or difference between “Media Art” and already established “Art”, I think “Art” is something that can be meaningful within the self. On the other hand, “Media Art” needs popularity as well.
ASO Tazuko／
As I have come to use computers as my main means of expression, I now feel connected to technology in a way that I did not when I was using only pencils. Media arts and the existing fine arts are very similar, in the sense of that they are both "means of expression". I see no difference between them; they just have their own features.
As I have come to use computers as my main means of expression, I now feel connected to technology in a way that I did not when I was using only pencils. Media arts and the existing fine arts are very similar, in the sense of that they are both "means of expression". I see no difference between them; they just have their own features.
How does your choice of medium affect on your works?
In another words, what kind of expression does your choice of medium allow you to make?
KAWAGUCHI Tetsuya／
I use CG application software as a tool virtually for all my work, but I feel 3-D CG software excels in expressing the angles or special expression which is difficult in the real world. I would like to try 3-D CG software of course, but also try live-action or animation as well.
I use CG application software as a tool virtually for all my work, but I feel 3-D CG software excels in expressing the angles or special expression which is difficult in the real world. I would like to try 3-D CG software of course, but also try live-action or animation as well.
ASO Tazuko／
Depth. I have been given access to a three dimensional world, which cannot be reached through oil paintings; the range of my expression has been dramatically increased. The biggest advantage is that facial expressions can be fluidly animated.
Depth. I have been given access to a three dimensional world, which cannot be reached through oil paintings; the range of my expression has been dramatically increased. The biggest advantage is that facial expressions can be fluidly animated.
Do you feel that your theme of your works and the digital art will change along with the shift of the society?
KAWAGUCHI Tetsuya／
I think it's changing gradually.
The current theme of creation for me is here with the help of broader ways of expression and various influences, and it's gradually changing with the times.
I think it's changing gradually.
The current theme of creation for me is here with the help of broader ways of expression and various influences, and it's gradually changing with the times.
ASO Tazuko ／
My theme will not "change along with the shift of the society", but I think it will change as I grow; it will naturally change when what I seek is changed.
My theme will not "change along with the shift of the society", but I think it will change as I grow; it will naturally change when what I seek is changed.
What kind of field you are best at in your works?
And how do your works fit within and affect on this society?
KAWAGUCHI Tetsuya／
I'm not sure if I'm good at it, but I would like to pursue “expression of a pause”, and “expression of creativity blended in popularity”. I'm very glad if you respond positively to my way of adding self-expression to the theme which is felt in a part of everyone's heart.
I'm not sure if I'm good at it, but I would like to pursue “expression of a pause”, and “expression of creativity blended in popularity”. I'm very glad if you respond positively to my way of adding self-expression to the theme which is felt in a part of everyone's heart.
ASO Tazuko／
I don't know what my strong point is. When I was using oil painting as my means of expression, I wanted "to express what I felt in my heart on the canvas", but now I also desire "to create something that will make both myself and the audience happy".
I don't know what my strong point is. When I was using oil painting as my means of expression, I wanted "to express what I felt in my heart on the canvas", but now I also desire "to create something that will make both myself and the audience happy".
What is your motto?
KAWAGUCHI Tetsuya／
“Spend a joyful life in this world which is so often without joy”
“Spend a joyful life in this world which is so often without joy”
ASO Tazuko／
"Never compromise with yourself"
"Never compromise with yourself"
What kind of situation in every day life do you get inspired most?
KAWAGUCHI Tetsuya／
Just an unexpected moment. I feel it when I touch various things.
I immediately forget the inspiration, so I quickly jot down what I feel on my memo-pad whenever possible.
Just an unexpected moment. I feel it when I touch various things.
I immediately forget the inspiration, so I quickly jot down what I feel on my memo-pad whenever possible.
ASO Tazuko／
They pop into my mind in daily life; I could be walking alone, having a conversation or happen to see something. My ideas mostly come "by chance".
They pop into my mind in daily life; I could be walking alone, having a conversation or happen to see something. My ideas mostly come "by chance".
What kind of vision do you have in your future development as the creator?
KAWAGUCHI Tetsuya／
I would like to concentrate on the completion of the new DVD work being produced and hope everyone will enjoy it.
As to the future development, although it's still in the planning stage, I would like to produce the work that remains in the people's hearts with the help of my encounters with so many people.
I would like to concentrate on the completion of the new DVD work being produced and hope everyone will enjoy it.
As to the future development, although it's still in the planning stage, I would like to produce the work that remains in the people's hearts with the help of my encounters with so many people.
ASO Tazuko／
I would like to pursue the expression of emotion and touch a chord with viewers. I was planning to do it mainly using facial animation, but recently I was impressed by the expression achieved by actors in the Disneyland the other day, so I now intend to take in some expressions by motion.
I would like to pursue the expression of emotion and touch a chord with viewers. I was planning to do it mainly using facial animation, but recently I was impressed by the expression achieved by actors in the Disneyland the other day, so I now intend to take in some expressions by motion.
Please name of the people or phenomena that you have got most influenced by as the creator.
KAWAGUCHI Tetsuya／
Mr.Yamada
The teacher of the drawing class I attended during my elementary school days. He taught me the joy of making things..
SAKAMOTO Ryoma
I was impressed with how he lived..
My parents
I really know that I am at this point in my life because of their help..
Manga and Animation
They were always close to me and I believe that they influenced me the most.
Mr.Yamada
The teacher of the drawing class I attended during my elementary school days. He taught me the joy of making things..
SAKAMOTO Ryoma
I was impressed with how he lived..
My parents
I really know that I am at this point in my life because of their help..
Manga and Animation
They were always close to me and I believe that they influenced me the most.
ASO Tazuko／
Human bodies
When I was drawing nudes in my university classes, I saw that the models had many different body lines and I thought that all of them were purely beautiful. It did not depend on body proportion, but rather it was the soft line of the human body and it impressed me very much; since then, the human body has been the theme of my work. I expect there are more varied ways of expression and I will continue seeking them..
Maurice de Vlaminck
By way of expression in oil paintings, I made much of the thickness of the layered paints and the matière that was brought out of them. Emulating Vlaminc's method of layering paints was what I was aiming for; I admired him very much. I still think that Vlaminc's works are very beautiful, particularly the way that the paint mixes and blurs together..
Jean Dubuffet
Whilst attempting to express the beauty of human body lines in oil painting, I found that I was able "to express by scratching layered paintings with nails". In this I was inspired by the unique lines in Dubuffet's work. I like his lines, they give the impression of being a little dispirited..
The death of a friend from university
One suddenly disappears in front of us. One who was here yesterday but today is no more for this world. I was deeply shocked by how transitory human life really is. When one exists no more, then where has the past that the person has been cultivating gone? Before long, the person becomes the past and is forgotten. What an uncertain creature the human is and in various ways; I lost my understanding of the existence of humans..
Films: Nankyoku Monogatari and Hachiko monogatari
I watched those films in my childhood and was deeply impressed. I think the reason that they are still in my heart even now is that the films were successful in their emotional expression; by using dogs, which cannot speak, they were able to strike a purely emotional chord with the audience. I, too, would like to be able to find a way to express emotions that will remain in people's hearts for a long time.
Human bodies
When I was drawing nudes in my university classes, I saw that the models had many different body lines and I thought that all of them were purely beautiful. It did not depend on body proportion, but rather it was the soft line of the human body and it impressed me very much; since then, the human body has been the theme of my work. I expect there are more varied ways of expression and I will continue seeking them..
Maurice de Vlaminck
By way of expression in oil paintings, I made much of the thickness of the layered paints and the matière that was brought out of them. Emulating Vlaminc's method of layering paints was what I was aiming for; I admired him very much. I still think that Vlaminc's works are very beautiful, particularly the way that the paint mixes and blurs together..
Jean Dubuffet
Whilst attempting to express the beauty of human body lines in oil painting, I found that I was able "to express by scratching layered paintings with nails". In this I was inspired by the unique lines in Dubuffet's work. I like his lines, they give the impression of being a little dispirited..
The death of a friend from university
One suddenly disappears in front of us. One who was here yesterday but today is no more for this world. I was deeply shocked by how transitory human life really is. When one exists no more, then where has the past that the person has been cultivating gone? Before long, the person becomes the past and is forgotten. What an uncertain creature the human is and in various ways; I lost my understanding of the existence of humans..
Films: Nankyoku Monogatari and Hachiko monogatari
I watched those films in my childhood and was deeply impressed. I think the reason that they are still in my heart even now is that the films were successful in their emotional expression; by using dogs, which cannot speak, they were able to strike a purely emotional chord with the audience. I, too, would like to be able to find a way to express emotions that will remain in people's hearts for a long time.
