Interview with Marumiyan - Japanese Graphic Artist

Princess Lotus - Marumiyan

Marumiyan is an extremely talented Graphic Artist from Japan. His work is a wonderful collage of photography and drawing. In addition to producing work for magazines, CD jackets, posters, apparel and website design; he has been involved in several exhibitions including the 2009 Taiwan International Illustration Festival. Marumiyan was gracious enough to take time from his busy schedule to speak with Architecture Caribbean. Here is a portion of the interview.

Architecture Caribbean: Who is Marumiyan? Where were you born? live? What do you do?
Marumiyan: Graphic Artist, born in Fukuoka City, Japan in 1985. I live in Fukuoka.

AC: What are the main features and elements of your work? Why?
M: I like to illustrate natural objects such as flowers and animals.

AC: How do you formulate your ideas and develop them? Where do you go for inspiration?
M: I usually draw freely as I like unless there is a subject that a client wants me to draw on. Whenever I create I listen to music. Music inspires me. When I hit new enchanting music, I can make a good piece of work.

AC: Tell us about your working process? How do you start a piece?
M: Firstly, I take an image that I want to create on the subject, draw many objects that have a good match for my image, and sometimes combine photos that I took.

AC: What tools and programs do you use to produce your pieces?
M: I mostly work in Photoshop with Pentab, sometimes in Illustrator, combining many graphic elements.

AC: The colors in your pieces really stand out, they’re extremely eye-catching…How do you determine the colours used in your pieces? In addition, how is this part of your design method?
M: I don’t always choose colors beforehand; colors are decided then and there in the process.

AC: Which are your favorite works?
M: Mongrel, Wellspoken, Harmony, Princess Lotus

Rastafarianism

AC: What do you think about Architecture Caribbean’s goal to highlight Architecture and the Arts in the Caribbean and other parts of the world?
M: I’d like you to continue introducing many exciting artists.

I find Marumiyan’s work intriguing. The vibrant colors, the details, the complexity, the contrast, the unique nature of his work. Every time I see something I never noticed before. Rastafarianism is a religion with roots that go back to the island of Jamaica, and he blended his art with a culture hundreds of miles away to produce a beautiful piece. Not only did he capture the recognizable dreadlocks/ braids and beads in the hair, but he captured the movement. Notice his other pieces and how “still” they are, however, in Rastafarianism, the braids are in motion. Whether because of the wind, the movement of the head on which they are, or both I am not sure, but it stands out because it captures the spirit of Caribbean people. That spirit of movement, dancing and celebration. Well done Marumiyan!

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