OWN INTERVIEW CONTENTS Vol.30 / Yusuke Oshiba (Artist)

Oshiba Yusuke (hereinafter YO): It's been a really long time since we last did an interview, right?

It's OWN (hereafter, O) , right? (laughs) Vol. 1 of OWN INTERVIEW CONTENTS is about Oshiba-san, but that was a reprint of the interview that appeared in the first volume of the LOOK BOOK. It's been a really long time since we've had an interview.

YO , I see, so that's supposed to be Vol. 1 of the interview.

First of all, the hardcore punk band Crocodile Cox, of which you were the vocalist, disbanded on New Year's Eve 2023. I'd like to hear about that.

I think each member of YO Band had their own true reasons for disbanding. However, one thing we all shared was that our careers were only continuing to grow, and performing live shows out of inertia wasn't what we were like. If that was how it was going to end up, we thought it would be more like us to just announce it publicly and disband.

I went to see O's disbandment live show, but it was so honest that I wondered when their next live show would be (laughs).

YO: It's interesting to have a breakup like that, right? (laughs) Also, Oka-kun, who originally created the band CROCODILE COX, was a big influence on me. He formed CROCODILE COX and then passed away. It might be a bit of an exaggeration to say that I did it for him, but I think there was a part of me that wanted to end our activities while we were still a band that could live up to Oka-kun's expectations.

On New Year's Eve, Shimokitazawa Shelter was packed to capacity. It really made me realise that they are a band loved by the local people of Tokyo.

YO I was so happy.... At first, the band members were saying, "It's New Year's Eve, so we probably won't get many people" (laughs). But I was so happy that so many people came to see us on such a busy day as New Year's Eve. It really brought home to me the realization and gratitude that we've been able to put down roots and be active in Tokyo as a "Tokyo local band" in the best sense of the word.

At what age did you start your musical career?

YO: I guess it was in my early twenties. I've been working with HAYATO since SCUM BANDITZ, and if you include CROCODILE COX, we've been in bands together for about 20 years.

20 years! That's amazing. HAYATO is now a very active member of SiC.

YO : That's right. HAYATO really loves playing guitar in a band. When I heard he was joining SiC, I felt his love for the guitar and punk once again.

Up until now, you've been expressing yourself through music for about half of your life, so that has now come to a halt.

YO: That's right, my activities expressing myself through music will come to a halt. Counting from my current age, that's pretty amazing when you hear that it's half my life (laughs).

OYou're not currently involved in any artistic activities as a band, but you've been very active as an artist recently. You had an exhibition in Nagoya not long ago, and recently you also participated in a joint exhibition in Osaka and Tokyo. So, in this interview, I'd like to talk mainly about your activities as an artist.

Understood . I've been creating art as little more than a hobby for a long time, long before I even thought about wanting to have many people see my work. That being said, I've never really been interested in titles, and out of respect for the artists I admire, I try not to call myself an "artist." But of course, I draw seriously, so I'm happy when I'm invited to an exhibition, and I find it stimulating and fun, so I'd like to participate.

OYou've been providing a lot of artwork in recent years, haven't you? It's a wide range, from apparel brands to brutal hardcore bands (laughs).

YO: That's true (laughs). I'm grateful for that. I feel like each of us received the offer because of the field in which we work.

By the way, was there a particular incident that inspired you to start drawing?

I wonder... When I was in elementary school, there was an art class where we would draw self-portraits and print them on mugs. Apparently, I was the only one who drew the self-portrait from a strange angle, and the teacher thought it was really strange. I have a strong memory of being really happy about that. I guess that was the trigger. And from there, I think I started to think, "Maybe I like drawing?"

O I guess the teacher's reaction was good too. He said he found it unusual.

YO: That might be true. I think it was around that time that I started drawing a lot as a child. The rest of the episodes are in no particular order, but it seems that my mother wanted to be a shojo manga artist when she was young. When I was a child, I vividly remember my mother drawing a picture of the three of us siblings taking a nap every day and hanging it on the door so that our friends from the neighborhood wouldn't come over and say, "Let's play!"

So you started drawing because you had a lot of opportunities to come into contact with pictures from around you?

No , no, it wasn't anything dramatic or fateful (laughs). I just remember in the back of my mind the pictures my mother drew every day and the reaction of my art teacher that gave me that initial impulse (laughs).

O (laughs) Was that the age when you started drawing as a life's work?

Thinking back, maybe that's true. I think it was around that time that I started to carry a pen or marker in my pocket or backpack. Then, when I was in high school, there was a senior skater who was into graffiti, so I would hang out with him and draw together, and when I was waiting for friends, I would scribble things like "I was here" on the spot where I was sitting. Oh, I think around that time I was skating at night in Kameido or Kinshicho, and while I was drawing on the crosswalk, a drunk old man suddenly asked me for a bowl of ramen. I drew a picture of ramen on the white part of the road, and he said "thanks for the meal" and gave me 1,000 yen. That 1,000 yen might have actually been the first fee I received for drawing (laughs).

O What a stylish drunk! That's a great story (laughs). With so many different cultures linking together, what do you think the style of your current work is?

I hate to say it myself, but I'm a dark person at heart, so when I was in a band, I ended up writing dark lyrics, and I think my style of drawing is a little similar to that. I think that when I put on paper the things I want to draw in my head, the style tends to look quite negative. I don't think of it as negative, but I think that in general, my style would be considered dark if it was judged to be bright or dark.

OI guess that's the most personal way to express yourself?

YO: I think that's true. I think I've been able to create a work that shows my humanity. A lot of people want to hide their negative things, right? But I think that's not very human. For example, I'm a boy, so I've fought before. I've even lost before. In fact, I think I've probably lost more times than I've lost. But as long as I've learned from my defeats and failures, I don't think there's any need to hide them. However, this is actually quite important, and I want to make sure I don't confuse the difference between "not hiding" and "showing off." In truth, I have a lot of uncool parts, and sometimes I use those things in the wrong way, so I want to be conscious of that.

O I see. In any case, I think you could say that Oshiba's unique style is expressed directly in the work.

YO : Yes. Ultimately, maybe that's the only way I can express myself. Maybe I tried to express darker themes a little when writing lyrics for my band. But I don't think I feel that way when it comes to my art. In the end, I guess if I just open up my brain and start drawing, this is what comes out. I'm happy with that about myself (laughs).

Your work is primarily drawn using pointillism. Why did you choose this technique?

I 'm visually impaired and have a weakness for color. There are some intermediate colors that I can't distinguish. Because I don't have confidence in color, I thought that I wouldn't be able to create gradations of various colors. But I thought that if I used black and gray, I might be able to create gradations, so I started doing pointillism.

OH: Have you known about pointillism for a long time?

I've loved the works of Shigeru Mizuki since I was a child, so I knew about pointillism. But I'd only seen it once.

OWhat do you use to draw when creating in your current style?

The tool I've used for YO pointillism since the beginning has been a fountain pen. It's a favorite item that I've used for a long time. To begin with, I personally dislike the culture of disposable tools, so I wanted tools that I could use for a long time and that I could grow attached to. The same goes for guitars and motorcycles. I also like clothes that I can grow attached to. It may be a counter-thinking idea in this scrap-and-build era, but I think that such items are absolutely necessary in life.

I have the impression that you have many friends and acquaintances who are involved in various creative endeavors, including painting. Do you get influenced by those around you ?

YO: Frankly, I'm heavily influenced by them. I look at people whose art I think is cool or who express themselves in the best way possible, hoping to find something I can steal from them (laughs). I think it's a waste not to be influenced by others. Especially if it's someone I like or respect. Their drawing style, angle of view, way of looking at things that I don't have. Rather than being influenced, I'd say it's more like I'm inspired. When I draw it through my own filter, I want it to be more of an homage than an imitation. Or rather, it just happens naturally.

Is there anyone who has had a particular influence on your work?

I didn't study art at art school, but I think I've been influenced by surrealist artists among the historical documents I've visually experienced. I like Magritte and especially Escher's work. I was impressed when the West Coast power violence band No Comment used Escher's "Angels and Demons" on their album cover.

O No Comment is the best. Oh, that 7-inch guy is Escher.

YO , that's right. I think the recording was called "COMMON SENSELESS."

What is it about surrealist works that appeals to you ?

I didn't study it as some weird knowledge, so I'll leave aside the exact arguments for now (laughs), but I was excited by the fact that there was actually a clear message contained within the contrary and strange playfulness. I still feel that this way of presenting things suited my personality and influenced me.

By the way, do you put any message or meaning into your work?

YO: I guess my style is something like "Follow your passion rather than thinking with your brain!" I try to give everything a proper meaning, or at least a personal message, so I'm ready to talk about it if asked. But I don't usually give titles to my works, and I call them "Untitled." I call them "Untitled" because I want people to cherish the impressions they have when they look at the paintings.

O I see. So I'd like to know about the process of creating your work. I think there are many people, myself included, who don't know how pointillism paintings are created.

In my case , I first get an idea of ​​the size of paper, or rather, I think about the size of paper I want to draw on, and then I start by cutting the paper.

O : Wow. So the size comes before the content.

YO : That's right. The size and texture of the paper come to mind first. Then I cut the paper from there, and once the size is decided, I draw a rough sketch with pencil in a sketchbook or something, and depending on the piece, I trace it on a light box, or I start putting dots directly on the paper. That's the main flow. From there, it's just a journey of constantly putting dots, as the name pointillism suggests (laughs).

It 's an overwhelmingly more difficult task than simply drawing a picture with lines, especially in terms of the time it takes.

YO: That's right. So now that I've started to think that I want to pursue art seriously, the only thing I regret is that I chose a style that's so troublesome (laughs). When I'm drawing, it's simple work, and I spend so much time facing these dots that I sometimes feel sick, and to be honest, sometimes I have to run to the toilet and throw up (laughs).

Oh yeah... It's pretty hard work.

YO : You can't do it unless you really love it (laughs). And besides, right now, I don't make a living just from my art. But I think I'm genuinely happy to be able to continue creating art with the approach I have now. To be honest, in my case, not all of the pictures I draw necessarily translate into money. But the presence of my family, who understand that and let me continue drawing, is really important, and the fact that my friends and colleagues around me understand my approach and approach gives me confidence. I'm really grateful for the environment I have. So, as for my art, even if the world were to one day lose all interest in me or my art, or no longer see any value in it, I'm sure I'd continue drawing.

It's like I'm taking the stance that I'm not doing it for the sake of reviews or money.

Of course , money is essential in life, but I'm not particularly drawn to "flippant monetary value or recognition." So, even if, by some mistake in the future, my paintings are recognized by a famous painter through some unnatural circumstances, that recognition will have zero value to me. Of course, when you're exhibiting or providing work, you want as many people as possible to see it. To achieve that, you have to keep painting and be recognized. But it's not like I'm painting because I want momentary fame that might fade in an instant. I want to stay true to the core idea that I'm continuing because I want to do it, because I want to paint. And on top of that, I'd like to become an artist known by many people someday.

In recent years, I feel like we've been placing more importance on numbers than on impulses or feelings about things, and that values ​​that chase after immediate money are becoming stronger.

YO: I certainly feel that way to some extent too. With the development of social media, you often see people who make you wonder, "Do they really think that it's amazing from the bottom of their hearts?" There are some people who think it's fine to just stand out in a short burst of time and say, "That's awesome! That's cool!", and there are also a lot of people who jump on that bandwagon. I think the fact that a system has been created that allows you to turn a momentary buzz into money is the "bad" part of the good and bad of social media. But well...I guess it was hardcore punk that made me think about things like that (laughs). Or maybe it's better to say it's thanks to it (laughs).

Let's say it's all thanks to O (laughs). Now, I'd like to hear about the works that Oshiba has worked on recently!

I 've provided artwork for the logo of "IDENTITY FES," hosted by Omachi City in Nagano Prefecture, and for an apparel brand called OPULENCE. I've also done artwork for merchandise for bands like ELMO, AND BELIEVE, B SIDE APPROACH, Discavil, and 9991. I also have a few projects in the works that aren't finished yet. The ELMO vocalist, Ma-kun, suddenly asked me to do it when we were chatting at a live house after he returned from a business trip overseas (laughs). For 9991, bassist Misa-chan and drummer Haru-chan sent me a passionate thank-you video after I finished drawing them, and it warmed my heart when I saw it (laughs). For Discavil, bassist and vocalist Taketo contacted me and said, "I'm starting a new band, so please help me out!" so I drew it right away! And Believe was created by Kita-chan, a former member of Crocodile Cox, and B Side Approach was created by Ume-kun. They're the same age and have been kind to me for a long time, and I thought it was funny that the initials of "AB (And Believe)" and "BA (B side Approach)" are both "teleco," so I drew it as a bit of fan art and they immediately accepted it (laughs). I've worked with other bands in the past, but these are the most recent ones I've done. The circumstances surrounding the request for a band logo vary for each band, but one thing I can say consistently is that it's always a band I like. For projects in other fields, I always have at least one meeting with the person who requested it before starting, and if we hit it off, I'll draw it.

As I said earlier, the genres are quite diverse.

I've always had a strong feeling that I don't want to choose just one field to work in. I've never been good at the idea of ​​only hanging out with fellow punks if I dress in punk fashion like Sid & Nancy. No matter what field I go to, I want to be as natural and true to myself as possible, and be able to say "Hello!" I mean, it would be weird if the world wasn't the normal state of things. That's what I think.

Last year and this year, there was also a joint exhibition presented by ZERO MAGAZINE .

I had the opportunity to exhibit alongside YO Hirotton , Daikon (haksid), and 373, and I'm overwhelmed with emotion. That's all I can say. Not only do I have great respect for each of these three artists' work and personalities, but I'm also touched by the wonderful commonality we share: skateboarding. What's more, they've all been active in the art world for much longer than I have, so I was incredibly happy to be included among these three great seniors. Once again, I'd like to express my gratitude to the three of them, and to Yasuda-san of ZERO MAGAZINE, who organized the exhibition.

By the way, you've been expressing yourself through music for a long time. Do you ever feel like you want to do music again?

Right after YO CROCODILE COX disbanded, I had a lot of emotions that I can't put into words, and I couldn't go to live houses very often, but recently I've finally been able to make time to go see live shows, and even though I don't go very often, I get inspired when I see a great live show that I've always wanted to see. The other day I saw Kazuo (MC KAHZZ) in Shibuya, and it was really inspiring. When I see such great performers, I get a little lightheaded, thinking that maybe I have something I want to say in music, too, into the microphone! (laughs). But if you ask me if I want to start a new band right now, I'd say that I don't have the time for that right now. That's how it feels.

Actually , the underlying theme of this interview is the 30th anniversary of "OWN INTERVIEW CONTENTS," so we asked Oshiba-san to appear again.

YO, it's already Vol. 30! I'm amazed it's still going strong (laughs).

O (laughs). She has been a model for OWN since our first collection.

YO: We've been friends for a long time, so I'm really happy to be able to help out a friend's project. When we did our first collection, naturally, no one knew about OWN yet. It's been great to see it continue and gradually spread to the world from up close. I'm sure you remember, but about 80% of the costumes for our first shoot were my own (laughs).

OThat 's right, thank you very much for your help (laughs).

I've always loved glasses, so I was really happy when you started your own glasses brand! And I'm currently a big fan of OWN.

Thank you! By the way, which item number do you use most often now?

Every season the quality is getting higher and the number of interestingly shaped items is increasing, but #03 is still by far the best (laughs). Personally, #03 is still my number one. I don't even think about what outfit I want them to go with anymore. In fact, I'm convinced that there isn't a single outfit that doesn't go with these glasses! (laughs). I love the rugged look of #03, and the deep blue frame really hit the spot. Lately, I've been wearing not only blue frames but also black ones. I'm also grateful that OWN has allowed me to like shapes and metal frames that were previously out of my league. In fact, the reading glasses I recently got for drawing are OWN metal frames.

O: That's right. Your reading glasses were also made with OWN frames.

YO That's right. Masaki from OWN tempted me by saying, "Metal frames are light, so if you get reading glasses made with these, you won't feel stressed when you're drawing." It really did reduce the fatigue I feel when drawing by 98%. So, thank you so much, Masaki (laughs). So I'd like to say that people of my generation should not resist and should get reading glasses made with OWN frames if they feel their eyesight is deteriorating (laughs).

Thank you for the promotion (laughs). Finally, is there any information you would like to share?

YO I can't say when and where yet, but I have a few projects where I've been asked if I'd like to hold an exhibition at their venue, so I'm currently working on an exhibition once I've accumulated a collection of new works. Also, I'm surrounded by so many amazing musicians that it's presumptuous of me to call myself a DJ, but...I'm happy to say that I've also been invited to DJ as well. Personally, I just go out and have fun with everyone, bringing along records I want to listen to, but if you have the time, please come and visit! I'll let you know some information once the exhibition is decided! That's all!

Thank you very much! We will be doing some scorching hot photo shoots in winter clothes this midsummer too, so please look forward to it (laughs).

YO Ah... Understood (laughs).

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