Hiroshi Shafer, said to be Quentin Tarantino’s favorite artist, is based in Brooklyn, New York. Shafer was born in Tokyo. Hiroshi’s current exhibition at Hakusen Gallery – titled “Good Part of You, Bad Part of Love” - is from the ongoing project “Future Camera, Maybe Not.” This project is organized around two videos, “Hide Your Ordinary Face and Open Your Flower” and “God of LOVE,” which document performance art workshops that Hiroshi ran in NY and Prague.
●Official Website: http://hiroshishafer.com
●Twitter: http://twitter.com/hiroshishafer
1.
10. What would you be if you weren’t an artist?
A housewife, shufu.
2.
10. Please tell us about the theme of your present exhibition.
The theme is “doing art as a way to communicate with people.” I regularly meet people and think that I only have art as a way to become friends with them. Essentially, if I can have people get hands-on with my art projects, then through them we can soon form a friendship.
3.
10. What is the title of this exhibition?
“Good Part of You, Bad Part of Love.” The title represents me. I thought it would be fun to question whether the positive parts of the self function as positive elements in a relationship.
4.
10. Please explain this exhibit.
The theme of the exhibit is that people wearing masks say things that they normally can’t say. I initially made masks because I embarrass easily.
5.
10. Hiroshi, you are succeeding as an artist in New York, but what is attractive about the city to you?
New York’s a difficult place. Nothing goes well, nothing. Tokyo is comfortable, so it’s boring.
6.
10. If you compare Tokyo’s art scene with New York’s, what kind of things are different?
I feel Tokyo is passive. In Tokyo, you simply can attract or mobilize people using graphic design advertisements. Another difference is that foreigners with a reputation abroad come to Tokyo and people say, “Wow, cool, a foreigner.” But in NY I feel it’s different; artists working within the NY scene can get by.
7.
10. What was the reason you started producing photographs and video?
I love television to death. When I was a kid, I’d watch about ten hours a day. I thought that someday I’d like to produce my own TV show. When I graduated college, I worked at a TV production company for six years. Then I began to hate it and stopped. For a while, after becoming an artist, I didn’t want to do video. But, among all the mediums of expression, I’m most suited for video… I took it up this year.
8.
10. Has there been a turning point in your work?
The turning point was a solo show in 2008, at which I exhibited only sculpture. From then on, I began producing photos using sculpture, as well as sculpture with absolutely no pictures. The reason for this was my divorce. Until then, I basically felt it wasn’t scrupulous to use naked models and whatnot, but after divorcing, I felt I could do anything.
9.
10. What are your future work plans?
I’ll take a short break. This year I’ve pushed myself to the limit. So when I return to New York, I’m thinking of making clothing for a bit.
10.
Top 10 Favorite Films & Television Shows
Sleeper (Woody Allen, 1973)
Joe’s Apartment (John Payson, 1996)
Flesh Gordon (Michael Benveniste and Howard Ziehm, 1974)
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Garth Jennings, 2005)
Painter (Paul McCarthy, 1995)
“The Mr. Bill Show” (Walter Williams’ Saturday Night Live skit, 1976-80)
Tobe! Songokū (Tokyo Broadcasting System Television TV series, 1977-79)
Dobu (Kaneto Shindō, 1954)
Play Misty for Me（Clint Eastwood, 1971）
Rocky (John G. Avildsen, 1976)
Hiroshi’s current exhibit runs until October 31st at Hakusen: http://hakusen.jp/
1-36-14, Minami-Asagaya, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-0004
interview & translation: Matthew Chozick
Hiroshi Shafer
