PROFILE
Born in Tokyo in 1997. While enrolled in the architecture department at Musashino Art University, he began his career as an artist by creating various animations, drawings, and other installations. He later gained attention for his live painting and work with apparel brands and tattoo studios, and in recent years has held exhibitions such as "Daimon Exhibition" at "offs gallery" and "FAKERY He has also held exhibitions such as "Daimon Exhibition" at "offs gallery" and "FAKERY" at "Gallery Gekkyoku", as well as art shows at "BEAMS T". Currently, a two-person exhibition "Kokoro no koe" is being held at "CON_TOKYO" until April 2 (Sun.).
Instagram: @ryotadaimon
Embodying the mind of DAIMON
Creation in the atelier.
RYOTA DAIMON has established himself as an artist with his airbrush drawings, which have become well-known not only in the art scene but also in the fashion and music worlds, and his popularity overseas has only increased. First, we visited his atelier, which he usually uses as a base for his creations.
I use a room in my house as my studio, and I put special canvases on the walls and planks on the floor to make it look like a simple studio. Most of the subjects I have used in my works are familiar to me, such as my grandmother's dog, Mac, or my favorite skateboard, so it is easier for me to create if my studio is close to where I live. I can paint as soon as an idea strikes me. But I also think it is necessary to change environments as I go about my activities in order to find new inspiration, so I don't always stay in one place.
DAIMON's desire to become an artist was triggered when he was a student at Musashino Art University. Influenced by the works of Walter De Maria, which he saw at the Chichu Art Museum in Naoshima, which he visited as part of his high school training, he decided to enter the architecture department. However, an unexpected turning point occurred there...
When I entered the school, I found that it was totally different from what I had imagined architecture to be (laughs). I was bored in the classes, and my student life gradually became one of inertia (laughs). After a while, I became friends with some friends from other faculties, and we came across animation and drawing as a way of expression. I had always liked drawing, so I gave it a try, and my friends responded well to it, and I thought it was more fun. Since then, I have been creating artworks with my friends, holding installations, and gradually becoming active as an artist.
He became active as an artist, but at first he was not very successful. As he continued to create energetically, experimenting with his own style, he once again reached a turning point. It was an encounter with an airbrush, which is indispensable to DAIMON's current style.
I had an airbrush as one of my tools, but I wasn't very good with it, and I was creating in a completely different style from what I do now. Then I had a chance to talk with an artist named Eric Parler. I saw that he used an airbrush in his work, and I thought that I would like to paint like him. When I held a solo exhibition at the "Offshore" gallery three years ago, I took the plunge and tried my hand at airbrushing alone, and it was a hit with me, and the people who saw it loved it. It was the moment I thought, 'Okay, I'll go with that.
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Now that he has an axis for his own expression, his style and direction have been defined, and he has become more motivated to create than ever before. He also has a perspective that is important for an artist.
I have always been intellectually curious and have a strong desire to see new sights and learn about unfamiliar worlds. For example, I had a strong image of "Avilex" as a military brand, but when I actually looked at the new items, I found collegiate and sporty designs, and the color schemes were very modern. It was an unexpected discovery, in a good way. Ideas are born from new experiences like that, aren't they?
