Get to Know the Artistry of Baiyon
Baiyon's Art Alchemy Extends Far Beyond Game Design.
Jun 20, 2009
Mr. Tomohisa Kuramitsu, called Baiyon, was kind enough to grant an interview which covers PixelJunk™ Eden and his many artistic branches that allowed for its creation. Baiyon harvests inspirations and blends them together in fresh ways to delight the global audience.
When did you first know you were an artist?
Baiyon: Hmm... good question! It's hard to know exactly when that was, but when I was 10 my 8 year-old sister went to a friend's house and saw 12-color crayons known as Coupy (these are famous with kids in Japan) and she told me she wanted the 24-color set. So what I did was I took my 12-color set and broke each crayon in two and presented this to her as a 24-color set.
Luckily my sister was very happy with this but my mother was less than pleased, giving me the usual parent lecture of 'treating things with respect'. What do I recall the most from this? The feeling that mymother's ire was unjust!
What are the first steps in your creative process?
Baiyon: I am always on the look out for audio and visual images that appeal to me. I am trying to add to my 'idea stock' that is made up of what happens around me during my day to day life. I look for connections between images, ideas and the work of other artists that I admire.
On Creative Energy
Your work includes different arrangements and combinations of computer aided graphics, music, screen printing, drawing, painting, fashion and decor, embodying the limitlessness of art. It also has a playful feeling and innocent curiosity. Can you name some artistic influences and/or important inspirations?
Baiyon: I take my inspiration from a number of works and artists that I admire greatly. It always starts with someone or something that inspires me in a creative way. In many ways it's best for an artist to have him/herself as their most inspirational partner. I also get energy and motivation from things I dislike. But this isn't really an energy source that I want to tap into at this moment in time. My influence in terms of game design comes from Mr. Shigesato Itoi.
On PixelJunk™ Eden
PixelJunk™ Eden is a piece of digital art that is interactive and incorporates a poetic philosophy of growth rather than destruction and is set to your visuals and music. Under the label of a game it has become accessible to everyone. What does PixelJunk™ Eden's popularity mean to you?
Baiyon: I am so happy that people all over the world have had a chance to play and enjoy Eden. It is true that in making the game, I focused on growth over destruction, on constructing rather than repairing. I am glad that this message is getting across.
Would you say there is a particular medium through which your expression is most successfully accomplished?
Baiyon: Anything that is capable of transmitting the whole message. So with that in mind there is no one medium that I could say at this point in time that is able to do that. However, if pushed I'd have to say that the approaches that get me the closest are game design and DJing.
Are there any new mediums you are looking forward to incorporating in your future work? What ideas are brewing in your studio?
Baiyon: Yes, indeed. Please watch this space [(Baiyon's website)]! I hope to have something that will surprise and delight people in the near future!
Translator: Duncan Flett
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