Kawaii Meets Art and Fashion: An Evening with Sebastian Masuda

Visual artist Sebastian Masuda helped launch the career of Japanese pop-star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, the princess of kawaii. In this program, Masuda discusses his works that have drawn attention worldwide, using an explosion of color and nostalgic childhood toys from both the U.S. and Japan. He also talks about his new innovative art project, Time After Time Capsule, which is coming to New York in April. Masuda brings to his work a uniquely cute fashion sense and “kawaii culture” that is distinctively Japanese, yet contains very familiar American elements. Accompanying the lecture will be a rare selection of items for sale from Masuda’s Harajuku shop, 6%DOKIDOKI.

This event is moderated by Marilyn Ivy, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Columbia University, who has written widely on Japanese modernity, mass culture, and aesthetics. Her publications range from studies of popular theater, folk religion, and media to essays on Japanese photography and art, including the work of Yoshitomo Nara. Her current work is concerned with the relationship of Japanese art and politics in the aftermath of 3.11.

Followed by a reception.

Tickets: $12/$8 Japan Society members, students & seniors

6%DOKIDOKI items for sale at the event:

A monumental sculpture by Masuda entitled Time After Time Capsule will be on view from April 29 to mid-September 2015 (dates subject to change) in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza on 47th Street and 2nd Avenue, just half a block from Japan Society. Time After Time Capsule is part of an ongoing multi-city participatory project with like capsules displayed last year in Miami, this year in New York and Amsterdam, and future cities currently under consideration. In each location, the artist plans a series of children and family workshops collaborating with the project’s community to create colorful objects using their personal items and cute objects from 6%DOKIDOKI. The objects created by the participants will be inserted into the capsule sculpture coloring the work as more items are added throughout the duration of the installation. All will be united in 2020 in Tokyo to mark the Tokyo Olympics, bringing together the contained memories from all the participating cities.