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3DTotal: Could you tell us a little about your art background and how you came to be an illustrator?
Ryohei: I was very bad at art during high school and achieved only embarrassing grades in the subject. However, in my third grade I became engrossed in drawing, but was unsure of what influenced me at the time. Now it’s perhaps the face of Kotaro, my small Japanese dog. Whilst studying art at university I eventually developed some technical ability which was important in order to work professionally, and also help my overall enthusiasm. I now work for a computer games company in Tokyo, but I try to create as much of my own work as I can.
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3DTotal: Your work is obviously very character driven, but how did you come to develop the interest in cross pollinating humans and animals?
Ryohei: I didn't intend to draw any specific subject or character. I just always look for the best way to express my theme. Human-animal character was one of my choices at that time.
3DTotal: Do you ever see your characters as being part of a story that relates them to one another and if not would you like to somehow tie them together in a graphic novel for example?
Ryohei: At this point nothing relates to each other as I am still in the middle of a phase looking for ways to express things with my art. However, I really would like to create a story tying my characters together some day. |
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3DTotal: What do the animals in your work represent?
Ryohei: Either people, I love, people I am scared of or gremlins and fantasies from the dark corners of my mind.
3DTotal: When you mention the dark corners of your mind it is somewhat suggestive of dreams and nightmares. Do your sleeping hours ever have a bearing on your work at all?
Ryohei: Yes. Sometimes dreams and nightmares inspire my work. I really enjoy looking back at dreams especially when I had really fantastic ones as they could come from feelings deep in my mind. As you know, remembering dreams is not very easy after waking up, but it is very interesting as it is like a finding treasure filled with ideas. |
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3DTotal: There seems to be a strong theme in much of your work concerning the relationship between humans and nature. Do you see this as being something close to the Japanese heart?
Ryohei: As my heart is Japanese, it is difficult for me to know how much of my work is influenced by this.Surely it must be a factor, but then again I promise that not all Japanese hearts are full of these images!
3DTotal: Your work appears to share some characteristics with that of the 15th century Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch. Is that a fair comment?
Ryohei: I love Bosch, but I am not sure that he is a direct influence. H.R.Giger is somebody who I feel has been a stronger influence, but even more so I think my student friends and colleagues have and continue to influence me.
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