The word ‘dazzle’ appears in many of Shigeki Matsuyama’s titles. And his work is just that, dazzling. Bold black and white stripes camouflage artworks in a range of mediums. Whether it’s a painted portrait or an immersive installation, there’s always stripes. Inspiration comes from everyday experiences. “When I'm creating, I often take inspiration from the things around me – things like a sense of unease and distrust towards media like the Internet and TV.” In particular, Matsuyama is interested in how today’s media distorts self-image. “The theme that runs throughout my works is that of ‘mode...
Bio
Shigeki Matsuyama (he/him) was born in 1973 in Japan. He currently lives and works in Kanagawa, Japan.
Career
Between 1998 and 2011, Matsuyama worked as an illustrator in advertising. Following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, he was inspired to create more conceptual work and moved away from illustration.
Collaborations
Matsuyama has collaborated with several brands and designers. In 2021, he was commissioned by Vans to design the Vans Store Harajuku store. He made the walls and spiral staircase his signatures striped black and white.