About memorandom 2 : Emotional Particles
Even when I have a time when I am seriously down,
I eventually forget about it because I start to feel better.
Oblivions are necessary for our emotional well-being but I had an urge to document how I was seeing the world during the indescribable emotional isolation because I think that the period is worth remembering.
The photographic images I have captured reflect my unconscious desire to distance myself from ruminative thoughts and negative emotions that have gotten out of control. The moments when I was capturing the lights outside the world, I felt a sense of hope.
.。.:✴︎
Edition of 300 / 140 x 240mm Soft cover 108p English
出版社:konomad editions(@konomadinc)
Collaboration with Supreme x MM6☟
Supreme®/MM6 Maison Margiela Wig
by TOMIHIRO KONO
March 30 2024
Exhibition in Kanazawa, Japan☟
DXP2 (Digital Transformation Planet): Towards the Next Interface
2023.3.2 (Sat.) - 24 (Sun.)
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa Japan
Feb 29 2024
“DXP (Digital Transformation Planet): Towards the Next Interface,” which was on display since October 2023, was scheduled to run through March 2024, but the Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred on January 1 caused some damage to the exhibition galleries, with some glass panels falling from the ceiling. As a result, the exhibition had to be canceled.
In response to this situation, we are developing “DXP2” by taking advantage of digital technology, mainly in the Public Zone. This is one of our proposals for curatorial resilience — that is, the capacity for overcoming this difficult situation — in museums.
With developments and changes in technology that are updated daily, the relationships between technology and our bodies, our daily lives, and our environment, including all living things, are also being generated anew. In this world, the digital is no longer an extrinsic tool, but our neighbor, partner, and part of our bodies. DXP’s messages come from a variety of perspectives, not only from artists, but also architects, designers, scientists, and programmers, spanning food, clothing, and shelter. Several artists will exhibit new versions of their work in response to DXP2.
Together with the exhibition’s companion publication, “Digital Bites: How to Ingest Art & Technology” (BNN, Inc, 2024), we hope that visitors to the exhibition will find a tasty dose of digital to feed their new ideas and activities.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣤⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⡐⡿⣿⡷⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣯⣽⣾⣿⡧⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⢏⢄⡹⣷⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣽⣯⡾⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠑⠺⣽⣥⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⣼⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The exhibition ended.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣓⣧⠀⢀⣀⡀⠀⠀⠠⠄⢀⣜⣴⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡓⠋⠉⠙⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠿⣧⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⡐⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠬⣌⢿⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Thank you so much
⠀⠀⠀⠰⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣰⢴⣷⣎⢯⣿⣷⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀for all the people
⠀⠀⠀⠦⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣹⣿⣿⣿⣷⣨⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀who came to visit!!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⡄⣿⡀⠀⠀⢠⠀⠀⠀⡇⣶⣿⣿⣏⣡⣸⣿⣽⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠘⣿⢻⣧⠀⠀⠘⠀⠈⠸⣹⣾⣿⣿⣿⢻⣿⢿⣿⢿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⢿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠂⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⡩⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠻⢷⣄⠠⠤⠄⠈⠻⠿⠟⣛⡩⠐⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⠔⡾⠛⠓⠒⠚⠻⢿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠔⡉⠁⣠⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡈⡋⣀⡀⠉⠛⢦⢄⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⢀⠴⠋⠁⡀⡙⠸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠼⣻⣆⡉⠄⠀⠀⠉⢿⣆⡀⠀
⠀⣠⠅⠄⠊⡠⡁⠟⢠⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠨⢊⣽⣿⣿⠢⡃⠄⡀⠀⣨⣿⡄
⠈⢰⣦⡺⠐⠈⠀⠀⠸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢁⡍⣻⣿⡆⠈⠐⠣⢟⣴⣿⠇
⠈⠁⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡌⢢⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⡠⠛⠻⢅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠤⣀⢐⢄⠀⠀⡀⢀⠞⠀⠀⢸⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⠀⠀⠀⢩⣻⡇⠀⠑⠉⠀⠀⠠⣋⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣘⡃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣿⠀⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⡛⠀⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣾⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠂⣠⡀⠀⡴⠃⠀⠠⠀⠀⠀⠀⢘⡎⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠂⠐⠐⠊⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2023年10月より開催していた「DXP(デジタル・トランスフォーメーション・プラネット) ―次のインターフェースへ」は、2024年3月までの開催を予定していましたが、1月1日に発生した能登半島地震で一部の展示室で天井のガラス板が剥落する損傷があり、展示の中止を余儀なくされました。
この状況に対し、私たちはデジタルの強みを生かした「DXP2」を、交流ゾーンを中心に展開します。美術館におけるキュレーションのレジリアンス(この困難な状況を乗り越えること)の提案の一つとして発信します。
日々更新されるテクノロジーの発達と変化の中で、テクノロジーと私たちの身体や日常のライフ、そして生物すべてを含めた環境との関係も新たに生成されています。この世界ではデジタルはもはや外在的なツールではなく、私たちの隣人であり、パートナーであり、身体の一部です。DXPのメッセージは、アーティストのみならず、衣食住にわたり建築家、デザイナー、科学者、プログラマーなどの多様な視点から発信されています。何名かの作家は、DXP2に対し、新たなバージョンの作品を展示します。
本展の関連書籍、『デジタル・バイツ アート&テクノロジーの摂り方』(株式会社ビー・エヌ・エヌ、2024)とあわせ、来館者の皆様がデジタルを美味しく摂取して新たな発想や活動を生み出す糧となればと私たちは願っています。
A triptych photography 'Metamorphosis'
by Sayaka Maruyama
for Hotel The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza
Tokyo EDITION GINZA opened in Dec 2023
Exhibition in Kanazawa, Japan☟
DXP (Digital Transformation Planet): Towards the Next Interface
2023.10.7 (Sat.) -
2024.3.17 (Sun.)
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa Japan
Eating the digital!?
Technology that integrates with the body
How will digital technology change our way of life and sensibilities? This question has been asked repeatedly since the 20th century. In 2023, we may answer this question: a completely different planet is about to emerge. On this planet which has entered the Anthropocene, we are immersed in an invisible network. Our lives are partly (and getting more and more) controlled by AI, and the relationship between technology and life is being generated anew every day.
DXP is an exhibition/interface that brings together artists, architects, scientists, programmers, and others to capture this transformation across disciplines, understand what is happening now, and propose it as something that can be sensed. The contemporary realities of AI, metaverse, and big data are the technologies of the moment. DXP is a vision of the future that follows it, explores the possibility of a comprehensive way of life that includes food, clothes, and habitation.
Current Plans is delighted to announce the upcoming exhibition of Japanese wig artist and photographer Tomihiro Kono and Sayaka Maruyama, their first presentation in Hong Kong. Starting out by learning the skills of geisha hairstyles, Tomihiro expanded his expertise beyond the traditions of Japan, and after moving to London and New York, worked as a session hair stylist to make head props. Inspired by elements from the natural world, like underwater creatures and insects and plants, he incorporates the weird, quirky and uncanny into his vision and craft into wearable art.
Fancy Creatures is an exhibition which brings us a glimpse into their surreal world, where human, animal and plants are mingled into sculptural, wearable hair art. Consisting of fantastical installations, photographic prints and a screening room where the duo’s video projects can be viewed in a cave-like environment, Fancy Creatures brings together more than 20 wigs made from real human hair. The duo create everything from scratch, from drawings and designs, to hand-dyeing, weaving, and painting the hair into incredible creatures. They have been commissioned by some of the most avant-garde icons, from fashion house Balenciaga to experimental musicians like Bjork and Grimes.
Current Plans is delighted to have Eaton HK as cultural partner, where Kono and Maruyama accepted artists’ residencies at Eaton HK from 22 February until 1 March. From 22 February until 26 March, the walls of the Food Hall will be adorned with Sayaka Maruyama’s surreal photographs of Kono’s wigs worn by models, as curated by Eunice Tsang.
NEW BOOK OUT NOW☟
'Fancy Creatures' by Tomihiro Kono & Sayaka Maruyama
Book Launch Event @East East,Tokyo
February 8,2023
本の出版記念 展示会:2023年2月17日(金)~19日(日) *場所など詳細は以下
FANCY CREATURES by Tomihiro Kono & Sayaka Maruyama
- The Art of Wig Making 2020-2022
About Tomi Kono Fancy Wig : ________
自分の髪やアイデンティティを隠さず、むしろ地毛とのバランスを楽しむアクセサリー感覚のエクステンション。
独特の形と手染めのカラーが、想像力を刺激する。
そのユニークなスタイルは、ファッション感度の高い若者から多くの支持を集めている。
Duddell’s is delighted to announce the upcoming exhibition of Sayaka Maruyama, her first solo presentation in Hong Kong. Born in 1983 in Niigata, Japan, Maruyama grew up in Tokyo, moved to the Netherlands with her family and has been working in between London, New York and Japan. A fresh talent, Maruyama is a multi-disciplinary artist who realises her notions of beauty into photography, drawings, books, and short films.
Curated by Eunice Tsang, Floral Beings will exhibit 13 works by Maruyama, and will be on view from August 18 to November 14. Maruyama shows us a glimpse into her surreal world, where human, animal and plants are mingled into one. Her dreamlike photography, sometimes integrated with digital drawings, translates human beings as floral creatures, using Tomihiro Kono’s hair creatures as a main motifs. Maruyama works closely with her partner Kono on sculptural wigs made of real human hair, which they hand-dye and fabricate into intricate animal-like structures. An installation exhibition of their iconic wigs will be held as a sequel of the current show at Current Plans, an alternative art space in Sham Shui Po.
Presented by: Duddell’s
Principal Art Patron: Ruinart
visual direction @konomadinc
Main visual photo: Sayaka Maruyama @sayaka_maruyama_
Wig: Tomihiro Kono @tomikono_wig Model: Yunn @i_am_yunn
Tomihiro Kono has been invited by Wereld Museum to exhibit his art piece of wig making.
In the museum shop, his products, including books, fancy wig extensions, posters, frog pieces and T-shirts are available for sale.
The exhibition runs for a year. Next year, it'll be exhibited in Amsterdam.
Wig Exhibition + Book Launch
New Book 'Layered Personas' The Art of Wig Making 2020 by Tomihiro Kono
Image credit: Photography : Sayaka Maruyama
Wig: Tomihiro Kono
Model: Aoi
Art Direction : konomad
About new book Layered Personas:
Identity is no longer a static,
fixed entity but constantly in
motion, continually evolving
and morphing from one state to
another in response to an everaltering
and always-connected
world.
There is new confidence to
embrace playful self-expression.
Japanese wigmaker and artist
Tomihiro Kono explores layered
personas (masks) - an evolving
self-perception - as he explores
the multiplicity of an identity.
By comparing different hairstyles
through his artisanal wigs,
he expands the idea of hairstyle
as one of the most significant
components of our constructed
identities.
Japan-based hair artist, head prop designer and wig maker Tomihiro Kono [河野富広] presents its latest book PERSONAS 111 - The Art of Wig Making [konomad editions, 2020].
A journey of 180 pages through hair experimentations, transformations and possibilities, published by his own house co-founded with the photographer Sayaka Maruyama.
Artifact c/o Spazio Maiocchi will be flooded with Tomi hand-made creations as a stargate for multiverses feelings and characters. The wigs become sculptural elements that amplify, mask or define identities, suggesting personal and collective imaginaries.
Opening Talk at 7.30 pm with Tomihiro Kono & Sayaka Maruyama [Japan] in remote conversation with Anna Battista [Italy/UK] screening live at Artifact through RSVP and on @sprintmilano.
This will be a rare opportunity to find Tomi's previous book HEAD PROP studies 2013-2016 [konomad editions, 2017], his ‘fancy wigs’, custom face masks made in collaboration with Collina Strada designer Hillary Taymour during the Coronavirus lockdown in New York, and T-shirts. Three free limited editions posters will be available for the public.
Supported by Slam Jam.
---
Tomihiro Kono started his practice as a classical trained hair stylist. His passion for hair soon led him to begin exploring more experimental hair and head designs, bringing him to create very personal head prop designs. In 2007 Tomihiro moved to London and collaborated with Dazed & Confused, i-D, and 10 Magazine, developing its own artistic grammar. He collaborated with Junya Watanabe, Comme des Garçons, Jil Sander and Aganovich and after living in New York, Tomi is now back in Japan, represented by Julian Watson agency. With his impressive portfolio and his two monographic books, his vision keeps contaminating present and future possible horizons | tomihirokono.com
Sayaka Maruyama's practice traverses the mediums of photography, film, drawings, installation and performance. Drawing on classical Japanese references and Surrealist motifs, her work explores contradictory contemporary understandings of notions of beauty, from both Western and Eastern perspectives. She has exhibited widely in London and Tokyo, and her images have been published in periodicals including the British Journal of Photography, Silvershotz magazine, the Financial Times Magazine and Eyemazing. Her latest photo essay will be published in the next issue of Pan and The Dream, out in September 2020 | sayakamaruyama.com
Anna Battista is an Italian-born freelance journalist, writer, curator and independent scholar. Among the publications she has collaborated with Dazed Digital, The Guardian, Vogue Italia, Interview Magazine and Pan and The Dream. Her latest essay is featured in the book Personas 111 - The Art of Wig Making 2017-2020 by Tomihiro Kono. Anna’s architecture, art, culture, design, fashion and film notes are collected on her site | irenebrination.com
The event is part of a warm-up series created by SPRINT—Independent Publishers and Artists' Books Salon, an artist-led platform devoted to investigating the multiple forms in which content, support and languages are articulated in publishing. Since 2013 the three-days salon has featured a non-profit Art Book Fair and an extensive Public Program. SPRINT 8th edition, will take place in Milan on 27–28–29 November 2020, with the support of Istituto Svizzero and in partnership with Spazio Maiocchi | sprintmilano.org
OPENING
24 SEPTEMBER 2020 | 10 AM – 10 PM
OPENING TALK | 7.30 PM live on
⤿ IRL screening at Artifact on RSVP
⤿ URL @sprintmilano
ON VIEW
'memorandom 1' Floral Beings is a second book designed by Sayaka Maruyama.
Capturing nudity with a surreal touch with a wig master Tomihiro Kono's fingerwave hair pieces of art, this book is made inspired by the word of Japanese pornography 'hair nude', a nude photograph showing pubic hair that once became popular back in the 80s-90s.
However this book doesn't contain any photography with public hair showing, instead Tomihiro Kono creates surreal hair
finger wave pieces and place them on the body, which has made this book a totally new hair nude.
Firstly she launches a book that is work-in-progress, which reflects her random thoughts in the process of book-editing.
As a result of playful thoughts, each cover has a unique design, hand-painted by artist herself.
version 1: 10 Limited work-in-progress editions
There are some blank pages in the book where Sayaka Maruyama paints by hand individually.
Each book varies.
One of a kind cotton face mask with bows and braided hair extensions with flower charms. Lining allows for filters to be put inside. Swarovski details. All extensions will vary in color and no two masks are the same.
This is a collaboration between Hillary Taymour, Charlie Engman, and Tomihiro Kono. Tomi is using scrap hair in his studio to make these special one of a kind masks.
https://collinastrada.com http://www.tomihirokono.com
Short hair and buzzcuts aren't usually deemed as versatile as long hair. But things are going to change thanks to Tomihiro Kono's fancy wigs. Conceived as joyful building bricks, these fun wig elements allow you to create a new radical style even with the shortest of hair - or with no hair at all - in just a few seconds. There are impossibly long braids, romantic kisscurls, punky spikes and magnificent mohawks in the most extraordinary colours - from dark black to cherry red, from flamingo pink and Creamy Mami lilac to emerald green and ocean blue. Build your own style with Tomihiro Kono's fancy wigs.
Tomihiro Kono X Collina Strada
Special collaboration masks
May 15, 2020
One-off masks created by Tomihiro Kono for Collina Strada Quarantine Collaboration for Charity
Tomi used scrap hair in his studio to make these special one of a kind masks.
Each piece will be auctioned off until Memorial Day where 100% of the proceeds will be donated to individual charities per masks & garments.
This limited edition reusable bag was designed to support the prevention of COVID-19.
NY-based photographer/visual artist Sayaka Maruyama has created artwork under the theme of ""NEW DAWN"" in support of the project.
10% of sales will be donated to multiple projects aimed to the prevention of COVID-19.
Tomihiro Kono's Book 'HEAD PROP studies 2013-2016'
now available for purchase online
April 3rd, 2020
Second Print Blue cover edition:
We do combine shipping if you buy PERSONAS 111 & HEAD PROP, and fancy wig together.
Email directly for combine shipping.
Book Launch☟
Tomihiro Kono's New Book 'PERSONAS 111'- The Art of Wig Making, now available for purchase online
March 13, 2020
Publisher Konomad Editions
ISBN 9780998620503
We are happy to announce Tomihiro Kono's new book will be launched on the 15th March 2020 from konomad editions.
The thrill of transformation is universal—never more so than now, as the longstanding barriers around gender soften. But so is the reluctance to change. In that way, the book functions like a handheld companion to Kono’s real-life installations, where visitors can try on his hand-knotted wigs and catch a frisson of an alter-ego. If the chameleonic nature of Personas has a gravitational pull—each otherworldly photo anchoring us to the page—its spirit of wild possibility sparks a new lightness of being.
- Laura Regensdorf Beauty Director, Vanity Fair & Contributing Editor, Vogue
Also you can purchase T-shirts online at our SHOP. We accept paypal payment.
BOOK☟
'memorandom 0'
by Sayaka Maruyama
Last copies available @ Printed Matter, McNally Jackson NY, POST & On Sundays Tokyo
June 24, 2019
*memorandom 0 is sold out at POST, Ebisu Tokyo.
Please contact @On Sundays for availble copies in Japan. Thank you.
ARTICLE☟
Beautiful Streets: Wigs in Tokyo
by BEAUTY PAPERS
June 19, 2019
Tomi, what is your first memory of glamour? “I bleached my hair with Coca Cola.” Takako Noel captures the unbridled joy of Tomi Kono’s wigs let loose in Tokyo.
‘Memorandom’ records the personal expressions of New York-based artist Sayaka Maruyama between 2011 and 2019, including photography, drawings, paintings, collages, objects, and images from her short films. The notions of beauty and other thoughts that randomly pass through her mind have been visualised and then translated into book form by the artist herself, because how each person perceives the world cannot always be explained logically. Maruyama records indefinable emotions and moments, thereby weaving multiple layered dialogues that result in a personal, poetic, and tangible portrait. Includes a conversation between the artist and Anna Battista.
244 p, ills colour, 17 x 24 cm, pb, English
POP-UP☟
Art Exhibition
'memorandom' by Sayaka Maruyama
May 7- June 1, 2019
Short film screening / photography / Painting / Collage by Sayaka Maruyama
Wig wizard Tomi Kono has been letting the public loose on his hairy creations. “I think it’s more exciting for people to actually wear the wigs, and get involved. I see them getting very excited and obsessed with their instant hairstyle change.” The second of his touring interactive exhibitions was held in Tokyo and photographer Sayaka Maruyama captured the visitors wigging out.
The title of the wig exhibition in Tokyo was ‘Personas’. I believe hair styles have a big impact on our character. If you change your hairstyle, you suddenly feel like you’ve become a different person. So the starting point was my thought that a wig can be used as a mask on your head. To create multiple personas.
This was the second interactive wig exhibition I have shown, the previous one was in Paris a year ago. Interactive wig means that visitors can come and try on the wigs. I exhibit them simply hanging them from the ceiling. I think it’s more exciting for people to actually wear the wigs, and get involved. I see them getting very excited and obsessed with their instant hairstyle change. The wigs I make are very fragile and can easily break, but my priority is for people to enjoy them.
BP: Where did you get your training?
TK: I’m basically self-taught. I started by reading vintage books about hair techniques. YouTube and Instagram are also great tools.
BP: Current kit hero product?
TK: Elnett as always.
BP: Do you have a favourite hair gadget?
TK: Recently I’ve become obsessed with using a Razor to cut hair.
BP: What does the word glamour mean to you?
TK: Obsession of beauty.
BP: What is your first memory of glamour?
TK: I bleached my hair with Coca Cola.
BP: Living, dead, real or imaginary … who has the best hair-do?
TK: David Bowie.
'Memorandom 0' by Sayaka Maruyama
[konomad editions No.002]
Limited edition of 100
April 1 2019
Sayaka Maruyama
memorandom 0
Artistic practice 2011-2019
New York-based artist Sayaka Maruyama (b.1983) is a multi-disciplinary artist who translates her notions of beauty into photography, drawings, books, and short films.
"Life as a whole is a collective box of emotional experiences. "
"memorandom" records the personal practices of Sayaka Maruyama between 2011-2019, includ- ing photography, drawings, paintings, collages, objects and extracted images from her short films. The ideas and thoughts randomly passing through her mind are visualized in various forms of expres- sion, then translated into the form of a book by the artist herself.
Maruyama feels it is more natural for her to in- stinctively translate her vision into images rather than into words.
Rather than being completed and finished, these images retain all the beauty of the non-finito, they are still in the process of becoming and escape the trap of being categorized in a specific form.
"I am simply interested in how we perceive beauty in our own perspective, react to it and make visible so that we can share with others."
How each person perceives the world can not always be explained logically. Maruyama gives importance to the act of recording indefinable emotions and moments.
By binding her random memorandoms, these collected images, drawings and fragments of text weave multiple layered dialogues that result in a personal, poetic and tangible portrait of the artist.
"I wonder if each reader will get a different feeling and interpretation of my works while leafing through this volume and in return how my work will be influenced by them."
Interactive Wig Exhibition
by Tomihiro Kono x TORO vintage
April 27 - May 4 2019
Toro Vintage Store, Tokyo
April 27-May 4, 2019
POP-UP☟
カツラ利休 Katsura Rikyu (Wig x Antiques)
Exhibition by Tomihiro Kono x t a t a m i
April 19 2019
A long time ago, there used to be the two ‘KATSURA RIKYU’ (as the finest examples of Japanese architecture and garden design) at opposite poles in Japan. One is 桂離宮 (lit. ‘Katsura Imperial Villa’) in Kyoto since early-mid 17th century, and another is this カツラ利休 (lit. ‘Wig + (Sen no) Rikyu’) in Tokyo existed for only three days in 2019. Imperial villa and ruined factory. High and raw. Classical and punk. Search and destroy. Tradition and illusion. Sun and moon. Wabi and sabi. You and I. In and out. Wig and antiques. Wow and epic!
t a t a m i is an independent online marketplace for applied mingei folk art, high-end antiques, or other uncategorized awesome stuff presented directly from Japan. Each item has been individually handpicked across the nation by each tatami’s unique dealer. May the Inspiration be with you.
1-25-9 Aobadai Meguro-ku, Tokyo
POP-UP☟
konomad editions' book fair
Daikanyama Tsutaya, Tokyo
April 1-14 2019
konomad editions is happy to announce our first Book & Products fair @daikanyama.tsutaya.art
Books, Posters and T-shirts are available for purchase! Thank you.
Creating a good wig is an art form unto itself – and if there’s one contemporary wig maker that’s modernising and reshaping the practice, it’s Tomihiro Kono.
Born and raised in Japan, Kono is the go-to guy for fashion houses like Junya Watanabe and Comme des Garçons, where he created sculptural headpieces from 2014 to 2016 for both mens and womenswear. “It was almost like breaking boundaries of my hair styling,” says Kono, “I had a deep think about how head design can participate in a fashion show in an effective and inspiring way. Shows are fundamentally for clothes, but making a total character from head to toe is very important”.
Despite his fashion world co-signs, Kono’s intricate wig making skills weren’t carved out in a fashion school. Instead, he chose to learn the technical art of Geisha hairstyling from a Japanese master in Uguisudani, Tokyo, an experience he recounts excitedly: “Watching the process of their skilful work is very inspiring. Not only did I learn his techniques, but also the importance and the possibility of learning by oneself. He was a self-taught master and that fact impressed me so much”.
Last month, Kono took a foray in to the art world by opening an immersive exhibition of his creations on Paris’s Rue du Château d’Eau in the 10th arrondissement. Entitled Wigs, the exhibition showcased a selection of his most-valued pieces from towering Rococo-esque wigs in deep pastels to neon elfin crops.
As well as trying to find a new location for his travelling exhibition, it seems that Kono knows exactly where he’d like to take his creations next.
LIGHT IS CALLING
By NEON O’CLOCK WORKS
Oct 29 - Nov 30 2017
HACO
31 Grand St Brooklyn NY 11249
Wed - Sun 14:00-19:00
Mon - Tue Closed
Free Entrance
NEON O'CLOCK WORKS is a creative unit of
SAYAKA MARUYAMA and TOMIHIRO KONO.
Driven by innate spirituality, inner necessity, and often by impulsive reaction the world they live in, NEON O'CLOCK WORKS explores the mediums of photography, short films, drawings, installations and books.
‘Light is Calling’ is their first installation exhibition in New York showing their earlier box collages produced in 2006 in Japan, as well as screenings of some experimental short films produced in Tokyo and in London between 2006-2012. These box collages were originally made to symbolize the energy of human desires in the form of box-shaped coffins, - more precisely, female desire for beauty inspired by the history of corsets. Dying for their perfect body of beauty, women suffer from the pain by the act of distorting their body.
Each boxes that are put up on the wall all connected with electric cables has a tiny light bulb and are light-up in the evening time that creates somewhat sacred and solemn atmosphere. The pure energy of their creativity filled in each box that has been slept for nearly 10 years in the artist’s closet, is now time to awake, and to be unveiled.
For NEON O’CLOCK WORKS, working as a unit means to them as what Carl Jung said :
“The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances:
If there is any reaction, both are transformed.”
They also collaborate with other unique artists, performers from all over the world.
Sayaka Maruyama individually work as a photographer / filmmaker and Tomihiro Kono is well-known for his handmade wigs and distinctive head props he creates for artists / musicians / performing artists.
HEAD PROP by Tomihiro Kono
[konomad editions No.001]
First Print : editions of 500
April 01 2017
HEAD PROP by Tomihiro Kono is a documentation of distinctive head prop work produced by Hair and Head Prop Artist, Tomihiro Kono from 2013-2016. HEAD PROP gives a clear indication of the insight and path Tomihiro has followed in his innovative journey for new head designs through his uncompromising approach to his work. Having developed a highly successful international career as a session hair stylist Tomihiro Kono ventures into new territory, not only attempting to produce visually striking head designs, but designs that focus on functionality in the beauty of form.
HEAD PROP studies 2013-2016
by Tomihiro Kono
Book Launch in New York
March 31 2017
Hair and head prop artist Tomihiro Kono is launching his archival book and limited edition poster at the office newsstand on Friday, April 7th. Head Prop is a documentation of his design work from 2013-2016, and the book clearly shows Tomihiro's innovative, uncompromising work. Having developed a highly successful international career as a session hair stylist, here Tomi ventures into new territory. He's not only attempting to produce visually striking head designs, but work that focuses on functionality without sacrificing overall beauty.