Joining us for her debut RUN we welcome Los Angeles artist Audrey Kawasaki who has brought us Fragile as part of the 2016 POW! WOW! x 1xRUN print suite! Featured as Kawasaki’s contribution to the Giant Robot Biennial show at the Japanese American National Museum, Fragile was originally painted using graphite and oil on a wood panel. Read on to take a look at Kawasaki’s debut RUN, her first large scale mural and more…
1x: Tell us a little bit about this piece, anything immediate you would like us to highlight?
Audrey Kawasaki: Many years ago I did a few pieces similar to this, that I called ‘Ghost Girls’. This piece was a new take on that. Simple and straight forward. I enjoyed subtlety layering of the paint and pulling her out of the dark wood.
1x: Was this piece part of a recent theme, series or show that you had? If so how did it fit into that given grouping?
Audrey Kawasaki: This was for the Giant Robot Biennial show at the Japanese American National Museum in LA.
1x: When was this piece created?
Audrey Kawasaki: This piece was created in September of 2015.
1x: What materials were used?
Audrey Kawasaki: Graphite and oil on wood panel.
1x: How long did this piece take from start to finish?
Audrey Kawasaki: I’d say a week and a half.
1x: Describe this piece with one gut reaction word.
Audrey Kawasaki: Watchful.
1x: What are your expectation this year for POW!WOW! Hawaii?
Audrey Kawasaki: Well, I’m more nervous than anything at the moment. This is by far the largest mural, and my first outdoor one, so it’s pretty intimidating. Plus it must be done within a week. So there’s a lot of pressure. But I plan to have a plan, and hopefully I can enjoy it all.
1x: Without giving away too much, what are your plans for your mural out in Honolulu?
Audrey Kawasaki: It will be one of my girls, with ocean plant theme. The colors will be fairly simple, and will be focus rendering on there face and figure and some details in the decorative elements.
1x: What’s your schedule like after POW!WOW! 2016? Any big shows or events coming up that you’d like to share?
Audrey Kawasaki: I’ll be having a solo show at Thinkspace Gallery in LA in November.
1xRUN: Where else can people find you?
Audrey Kawasaki: Website – Instagram @audkawa – Facebook – Twitter
-1xRUN