CIRCLE OF DAYZ vol.2 Tetsu Nishiyama Part1

2020.11.27 #INTERVIEW

In "CIRCLE OF DAYZ," we take an in-depth look at those who are closely associated with DAYZ as well as other fascinating people. For the second issue, we spoke with Tetsu Nishiyama, brand director of 〈FORTY PERCENT AGAINST RIGHTS〉 (FPAR),〈 WTAPS〉, and 〈DESCENDANT〉. “The truth is out there" is the first exhibition from FPAR. In the first part of the interview, we talked to Nishiyama about his thoughts on holding the exhibition and the difference between making clothes and making artwork.

FPAR’s message: “Be one with the times.”

——This is your first time producing an exhibition at DAYZ. How did you come up with the idea of having an art show for 〈FORTY PERCENT AGAINST RIGHTS〉?

Mr. Watanabe, the director of DAYZ, talked about what we could do together through DAYZ. We wanted to do something different from the usual collaboration products that we do with our brands and shops. So, we came up with the idea to involve the SAI GALLERY, located next door to DAYZ, in an exhibition of an artwork installation of 〈FORTY PERCENT AGAINST RIGHTS〉 (FPAR). This brand dates back to the 90s, and was born in Shibuya. 〈FPAR〉, up until this point has always used the medium of screen printing. Maybe it is fate that a Shibuya, Tokyo-based store like DAYZ is featuring the brand, and SAI, one of the leading art galleries in Shibuya, is presenting the artwork installation as an exhibition.

——What made you decide on the title “The truth is out there”?

The current state of the world, including here in Japan, was my inspiration. When I mixed all my thoughts together, I realized that “The truth is out there” is a truth that everyone has been overlooking. In the process of shifting to a simple life as the new normal and realizing the preciousness of the everyday that we used to take for granted, it's becoming important for each of us to face the big challenges of our time while looking to the future. That's why I decided to use the title “The truth is out there”.

Clothes and Art: crafting my ambitions

——Did your feelings change at all after you started doing art under the 〈FPAR〉 brand that wasn’t clothing?

I don't think anything has changed for me. From an outside point of view, whether you’re familiar with 〈FPAR〉 or not, it's still the same as before. I think it's something other than just a clothing platform. You can wear clothes and walk around no problem, but it's difficult to walk around while carrying framed artwork. Wearing clothes is fundamentally a form of self-expression, but I think having framed artwork at home that you like is also a form of self-expression.Up until now my works have been clothing, mainly T-shirts, but I don’t feel any difficulty or discomfort showing my artwork at an exhibition. Actually, I really enjoyed the process of producing and editing, which was different from anything I've done before.Either way it's fun, but artwork like this has more freedom of expression and allows for production using deeper thinking. The work in the exhibition wasn’t just thrown together haphazardly, I started by focusing on environmental elements, such as space direction and the foot traffic of the museum, and there was also a lot to think about in terms of theme and story, style and technique. So I had the most fun in the process of creation, and it was definitely the peak of my career (laughs).

——The process of making things is fun, isn't it? It's kinda like a school festival.

Yes, that's why I didn't want to unveil it today (laughs). In fact, that's why I hated today, “the day of the unveiling” (laughs), until about the day before yesterday, when I was just setting it up, and I finally started to have fun (laughs). To be honest, I don’t feel any pleasure in "having people see" my work, even though it was designed to be seen; I guess I don't have that much desire for approval (laughs).

Interview ： Yu Yamaki
Text & Edit : Shu Nissen
Photo : Kenta Karima