MAT INTERVIEW

谷川じゅんじ(JTQ)Junji Tanigawa (JTQ)

谷川じゅんじ(JTQ) / Junji Tanigawa (JTQ)

Born 1965. He founded consulting firm JTQ Inc. in 2002, providing creative direction for clients to “deliver [their] messages through the medium of space”. Going beyond the designing of physical structures, he applies all forms of communication to branding development and promotion. His major works include Japan Media Arts Festival (2005 - 2008), JAPAN BRAND EXHIBITION (2007), Kansei Exhibition (2009) at the Palais du Louvre’s Museum of Decorative Arts, Yakushiji Hikari Emaki (2010) to commemorate the 1300th anniversary of Heijyokyo, GOOD DESIGN EXPO (2007 - 2011), GOOD DESIGN EXHIBITION (2007-2013), KRUG Bottle Cooler (2011, 2013), MARC JACOBS ICONIC SHOWPIECES EXHIBITION (2013), UT POP-UP! TYO (2013), MEDIA AMBITION TOKYO (2013 – 2014) and IMA CONCEPT STORE (2014). Tanigawa has been selected for the D&AD Awards, as well as winning numerous DSA (formerly DDA) Awards for his outstanding contributions to spatial design.
http://www.jtq.jp/?en

あなたにとってテクノロジーとは?What does technology mean to you?

不可能が可能になる知恵の可視化。この星に生きるすべての生命が共存できる仕組みをみつけることのできる方法の追求。人々の想像と期待が描きだす「これから」をアクチュアルな状態に置き換えることを目的とした技巧研鑽です。

Technology is the visible realization of the impossible. It is the pursuit of methods we can apply to develop frameworks for all life on this planet to coexist. It is the refining of techniques for the purpose of building the future depicted by our imaginations and expectations.

あなたのアンビションとは?What is your ambition?

自分のもつすべての能力をもって取り組むべき新しい価値の創造。自分自身の記憶と経験を紡ぎ織りあわせることでみえてくる朧げな図案を実体化すること。

My ambition is to use the skills I have to promote the values that I feel are important, and to give form to hazy blueprints that only start to become clear when I begin to connect my memories and experiences.

あなたが想像する2021年の東京とは?How do you think Tokyo will change in 2021?

22世紀を迎える子供たちが生まれる時代。最先端があっという間に過去になっていく時代。オリンピックを契機にさらに世界の国々との交流は広がり、異なる文化や価値観を持った人々がここTOKYOに集まります。新時代のアジアンハブとして世界のゲートウェイとして最先端技術とやさしさにあふれた感性集積都市を目指したいと考えます。

The first generation that will live to see the 22nd century will be born around that time. It will be an age where the cutting-edge quickly becomes obsolete. The Olympics will encourage a deeper exchange and interaction with other countries, bringing people from a variety of cultural backgrounds and values to Tokyo. I want to help develop Tokyo into an Asian hub and gateway to the world for a new age—a welcoming city with one finger kept firmly on the pulse of the world and filled with cutting-edge technology.

齋藤精一(ライゾマティクス)Seiichi Saito (Rhizomatiks)

齋藤精一(ライゾマティクス) / Seiichi Saito (Rhizomatiks)

Seiichi Saito is a graduate of Columbia University, USA and taught at its Architecture School (MSAAD) in 2001, and started working as a commercial/Art Space designer in New York. From 2002, he worked at an advertising agency, Arnell Group as space designer / motion graphic director. He has exhibited his art installations at GINGA Echigo-Tsumari Biennale, Dumbo Art Festival 2003, and held his first solo show, WHITE BASE at Spiral Gallery in 2004. With his logical approach as an architect, and advertising background, his work has different perspective and axis towards the public and he does not categorise his work. He founded art-design firm, Rhizomatiks in 2005 in Tokyo, Japan.
http://rhizomatiks.com/

あなたにとってテクノロジーとは?What does technology mean to you?

日常を便利にしてくれるとともに、私の生活の全てを創ってくれているもの。いまのテクノロジーがなければ私の職業も、仲間との出会いも、表現のアイディアも発想されなかったと思う。それぐらい強いもの。

Technology is that which makes life easier for me and creates everything I use in my daily routine. Without today’s technology, I wouldn’t have the job I have, the friends I’ve met, and the ideas that I’ve expressed. That’s how powerful technology is.

あなたのアンビションとは?What is your ambition?

生涯作り続けることであり、今あるものに疑問の視点をもって、もっと楽しくするためにはを考え続けること。その大小ではなくて、つくり上げるものの影響力を強くすること。

My ambition is to continue creating for the rest of my life. It is to view everything we have today with skepticism and see if I can’t make it more enjoyable. It is to focus not on the size of my creations, but on the impact that they have on the world.

あなたが想像する2021年の東京とは?How do you think Tokyo will change in 2021?

良い意味で思ったよりも今とあまり変わらない。ただ、様々なものが過去と比べると格段に便利になっていると想像します。ただ、便利とエンターテイメントはまだまだ交わっていないと思う。

I don’t think things will change too much, which is not a bad thing. I do think that a lot of things we have today will become even more useful by then. Having said that, I don’t think we’ll have arrived at a point where we’re successfully fusing utility with entertainment.

猪子寿之(チームラボ)Inoko Toshiyuki (teamLab)

猪子寿之(チームラボ)/ Inoko Toshiyuki (teamLab)

Toshiyuki Inoko, Founder of teamLab was born in Tokushima City in 1977.He graduated from the University of Tokyo in 2001, from the Department of Mathematical Engineering and Information Physics. He attended the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies before leaving in 2004.
teamLab is an Ultra-technologists group made up of specialists in the information society such as; Programmers (User Interface Engineers, Database Engineers, Network Engineers, Hardware engineers, Computer Vision Engineers, Software Architects), Mathematicians, Architects, CG Animators, Web Designers, Graphic Designers, Artists, Editors and more. We create works through "experimentation and innovation" making the borders between Art, Science, and Technology, more Ambiguous.
http://www.team-lab.net/en/

あなたにとってテクノロジーとは?What does technology mean to you?

創造を生むもの。そして、さらなる創造をするために、創造するもの。

Technology is that which gives birth to creation. It is also that which we create to nurture further creation.

あなたのアンビションとは?What is your ambition?

デジタルアートを通して、人類の価値観を少しでも変えたい。それは、質量のある物質が持つ魅惑よりも、デジタルがもたらす新たな価値の方が、かっこいいと感じさせたい。そして、それによって、人類が少しでも物質から解放されることによって、有限概念から解放され、少しでも、人類が、今より、ピースになったらいいなと思う。

My ambition is to change our values through digital art, even if a only little. I want people to realize that the new values embodied by digital expressions are a lot cooler than whatever charms material objects may have. And, finally, I hope this realization helps relieve us from our dependency on material objects and frees us from our limited mindsets to make us more peaceful creatures.

あなたが想像する2021年の東京とは?How do you think Tokyo will change in 2021?

先延ばしされた問題がいよいよ収拾がつかなくなるが、地方との相対的な価値がより上がるため危機感は薄く、現状への肯定が強化され、大きな状況が生む少し噴出した問題の原因を個人に押し付け、非寛容な都市になり、そして、未来に対して積極的な世界の各都市に比べ相対的な価値がますます低下するため、比較しにくい文化をより自尊心の拠り所にしている。
なんちて。そんな風に、なってなかったらよいな。がんばろーと!

Problems associated with rural Japan that have been ignored for years will finally be approaching the point of no return, but the people will be barely aware of the danger because they will have grown too attached to values embodied by the city. Society will increasingly encourage the rejection of reality and blame individuals for small problems created by larger trends, causing Tokyo to become an unfriendly city. The values embodied by Tokyo will become progressively worthless as other cities around the world take the lead in tackling our future. As a result, Tokyoites will begin to identify more and more with cultures that do not have equivalents in other countries in an attempt to make themselves feel more unique and individual. Just kidding! At least, I hope it doesn’t turn out like that. Wish me luck!

於保浩介(WOW)Kosuke Oho (WOW)

於保浩介(WOW)/ Kosuke Oho (WOW)

After graduating from Tama Art University, joins a major advertising firm then proceeds to WOW.
Has worked in overall visual planning (CM, VI, PV) and creative direction mainly via advertisement.
His recent works have been focused on spatial visual expressions. His activity areas have expanded overseas and has worked as director on numerous installation visual projects.
http://www.w0w.co.jp/index.html

あなたにとってテクノロジーとは?What does technology mean to you?

あくまでも主題は何をどう表現したいか。テクノロジーはそれをどう実現するための手段。どのようなテクノロジーが必要かはあくまでも何をやりたいかによって決まってくる。テクノロジーは必要不可欠ではあるが主題ではない。

My main focus is on what to express and how. Technology is simply a tool I use to achieve that. The technology I use is always determined by what I’m trying to do. Technology is a key component, but it is not the main one.

あなたのアンビションとは?What is your ambition?

田舎(東京以外の魅力ある場所)に住むこと。色んな複合的な問題要素(インフラ、仕事、家族)を乗り越え、田舎に住んでいても生活できるようになること。

My ambition is to live in the countryside (i.e. somewhere attractive that’s not in Tokyo). I want to be able to live in the countryside, and overcome the numerous problems (e.g. related to infrastructure, work, and family) that might come with that decision.

あなたが想像する2021年の東京とは?How do you think Tokyo will change in 2021?

冷静に見れば根本的にはそんなに変わらないと思いますが。希望的な観測としては、東京はコンテンツとして魅力的なものはたくさんあると思うけど、オリンピックを機にもっと見た目にも美しい魅力的な街になって欲しい。キレイに整頓された街というよりは、これだけ大きな都市なのだから場所によってもっと特徴を出して欲しいし、多くの 日本人が街の景観の重要性に気づいて欲しい。人は良い意味でも悪い意味でも環境に大きな影響を受けると思うので。

Objectively speaking, I don’t think it will have fundamentally changed that much. Tokyo has a lot of attractive content to offer, and my hope is that the city takes advantage of the Olympics to become a more aesthetically beautiful city as well. I don’t mean streamlining the cityscape so much as I mean designing buildings that better embody the distinct qualities of the neighborhood they are built in, to help more Japanese people realize the importance of the urban landscape. For better or for worse, people are greatly affected by the environment in which they live.

名和晃平(SANDWICH)Kohei Nawa (SANDWICH)

名和晃平(SANDWICH)/ Kohei Nawa (SANDWICH)

Born in 1975. Sculptor and an assistant professor at Kyoto University of Art and Design. Director of "SANDWICH," a creative platform for production established in 2009 in Fushimi, Kyoto.
In 2011, his solo exhibition was taken place at Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT).
In 2013, he joins to Setouchi Triennale and Aichi Triennale after accomplishing his successful project "Manifold", a large scale public art exhibited permanently in Cheonan, Korea. Having unique concept of PixCell as an axis, his works continue to unfold expressions in diversity. Currently based in Kyoto.
http://sandwich-cpca.net/

あなたにとってテクノロジーとは?What does technology mean to you?

今自分が生きている時代、未来や過去、そして宇宙全体を知る術であり、感性というフィルターを通して作品を生みだすために欠かせないものです。それは単なる技術としてではなく、人間の身体やDNAに本来備わっている機能の拡張でもあり、価値観や生命観などと深く関わっているとも思います。

Technology is key to understanding our current world, the future, the past, and even the entire universe. It is an essential part of my process in translating my sensibilities into the work I create. Technology is not just a tool, but an extension of the functions already embedded in our bodies and in our DNA; thus it is deeply connected to our values and views about our very existence.

あなたのアンビションとは?What is your ambition?

ひとりの作家として、時代と共に変化する社会とも関わりながら、この地球上に目に見えないけれど確かに存在するものを彫刻作品によって追求したいと思います。世の中の本質に関わる部分をどこまで掘り下げて表現できるかチャレンジし続けるつもりです。

I intend to keep myself grounded in society and its changes, as I pursue through my sculpture those elements in our world that are invisible, but nonetheless definitely exist. I intend to continue my challenge in digging deep into the nature of this world and expressing the discoveries.

あなたが想像する2021年の東京とは?How do you think Tokyo will change in 2021?

拠点が京都なので細かい事はわかりませんが、東京オリンピックの翌年で全体的に落ち着きを取り戻しつつ、新しい都市へとメタモルフォーゼするプロセスが着実に進むことでしょう。感性消費のセルフブロイラー状態から脱却し、文化的な価値観やライフスタイルを支える”哲学”がより重要になり、世界的にみても精神的に豊かで成熟した都市になっているのではないでしょうか。

I’m based in Kyoto, so my knowledge on Tokyo has its limits- but I do feel that the year following the Olympics will mark a new era for the city. Even as things settle back down, I believe the momentum of the event will continue to help Tokyo metamorphose into a new place. I’m envisioning a city that can shed its habit of uninformed, impulsive consumption, and begin to embrace philosophical values that nurture culture and lifestyle- a capital that can be globally recognized for its spiritual enrichment.

白鳥啓(マチルダ)Kei Shiratori (Matilde)

白鳥啓(マチルダ)/ Kei Shiratori (Matilde)

Kei Shiratori was born in 1980. He graduated from the Faculty of Media, Tokyo University of Science, and the Dynamic Sensory Programming Course at International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences (IAMAS).
He has manufactured art works using mobile device operating on autonomy and interaction.
In 2012, He founded Matilde inc.
AR application, “ARART", was awarded the German ZKM App Art Award Prize.
He is also the development director of the wearable product “FUN'IKI glasses".
http://ma-tilde.com/

あなたにとってテクノロジーとは?What does technology mean to you?

メッセージを具現化して伝えるための手段

Technology is a tool I use to give form to the things I want to say.

あなたのアンビションとは?What is your ambition?

理知的な思考と純粋な好奇心がバランスをとれた状態で自分の研究と制作を続けること

My ambition is to continue researching and creating, and to maintain a good balance of intellectual thought and innocent curiosity.

あなたが想像する2021年の東京とは?How do you think Tokyo will change in 2021?

最先端の技術や文化が生まれる都市でありながら、東京古来の自然や歴史を深く感じることができる場所が今よりも増えている事を望んでいます

I hope Tokyo grows into a city that produces cutting-edge technology and cultures, even as it continues to offer a deep sense of the nature and history that have shaped the city since ancient times.

オリヴィエ ラツィ(ANTIVJ)Olivier Ratsi (ANTIVJ)

オリヴィエ ラツィ(ANTIVJ)/ Olivier Ratsi (ANTIVJ)

Olivier Ratsi is a French visual artist whose work is mainly based upon representations of space's perception and the experience of reality.
He has developed a creative process based on the deconstruction of space and time.
Its aim is to generate a break from the meaning of the original items, to propose a new viewing point and provide the public with a new field of experience, a different way of looking at space and time.
http://www.ratsi.com/

あなたにとってテクノロジーとは?What does technology mean to you?

テクノロジーとは、私自身のアーティスティックアプローチの実践を可能にするツールと技術のすべてです。私にしてみれば、テクノロジーはそれがどんなものであれ、決して目的ではありません。とはいえそれをマスターすることは重要です。なぜならそうすれば常に正しい分析ができますし、完全にテクノロジーの奴隷になってしまうことはありませんから。クリエイティブな観点で言うと、テクノロジーは創作プロセスの前にも後にも生じるものです。

Technology refers to a whole of tools and technicals which allow myself to implement my artistic approach. According to me, technology is not an end by any mean whatsoever; to master it is important, because then it always allows to properly analyse it and not turn completely into its slave. From a creative point of view, it also can occur before the creation process as well as after it.

あなたのアンビションとは?What is your ambition?

私の作品は、本質的にリアリティ体験と空間認識の表現が基になっています。私はリアリティをオブジェクトとして、また時間・空間・事象を無形の情報概念と考えます。私のアンビションは、これらの概念から不連続性のコンセプトを着想することで、自分とはまた別の視点を観客の皆さんと共有できることを目指しています。

My work is essentially based on the experience of reality and the representations of space perception: I think about reality as objective, and time, space, matter, as intangible information notions. My ambition is to conceive discontinuity concepts out of these notions, in aim to be able to share another point of view with the spectator.

あなたが想像する2021年の東京とは?How do you think Tokyo will change in 2021?

今回初めての来日なので、この旅が終わるまでに考えてみたいと思います。

This is the first time I have traveled to Tokyo, so I’d like to wait for the end of this journey before expressing an opinion about that.

若林恵(『WIRED』日本版)Kei Wakabayashi (WIRED Japanese Edition)

若林恵(『WIRED』日本版)/ Kei Wakabayashi (WIRED Japanese Edition)

Born in 1971. Spends his early childhood in London and New York.
After graduating from Waseda University’s Faculty of Letters, Arts and Sciences (his major was in French literature), joins Heibonsha, a publishing company. Through editing for the company’s monthly magazine ‘Taiyo (sun)’, he becomes affiliated with Japan’s traditional cultures including cooking, architecture, design and literature.
Becomes independent as a freelance editor in year 2000 and thereon works on editorial production for magazines, free-papers, corporate PR brochures, as well as editing exhibition illustration books and other written works. He is also active as a music journalist and edits music-related articles ranging from free jazz to K-pop. Is also a consultant for music labels,
Editor-in-Chief for WIRED JAPAN since 2011.
http://wired.jp/

あなたにとってテクノロジーとは?What does technology mean to you?

人間とそれを取り巻く世界との関係を修復するものであってほしい、と思ってます。

Technology, to me, is something that ideally repairs the relationship between humans and the world around us.

あなたのアンビションとは?What is your ambition?

過去から受け継がれた「いいもの」を「いいもの」のまま残すこと。

My ambition is to make sure that the good things we’ve inherited from the past continue to be “good things”.

あなたが想像する2021年の東京とは?How do you think Tokyo will change in 2021?

複雑だけどクリーンで、かつお金のかからない街であることを望みます。

I hope Tokyo becomes a city that is both complex and clean, and doesn’t cost too much money to live in.