To kick off 2017 we welcome in our friend and longtime collaborator Hannah Stouffer, as she kicks off the H+ Creative x 1xRUN Print Suite with artist Yoko Honda and her debut RUN Sporting Life! “Yoko Honda is a Japanese illustrator and graphic designer from Tokyo. Her work is an unmistakable throwback to the decade of excess—exploding with 80s colors, themes, and landscapes straight out of Miami Vice.” We couldn’t agree more. We’ll have a first here for 1xRUN with our very first bilingual interview. The English translations are from Google, so bear with us and read on to find out more about Yoko Honda’s debut RUN Sporting Life as we all lie to ourselves that we’ll exercise in the New Year!
1 x: Tell us how the idea and execution came about for this print …
Honda: I like music very much. When you listen to old good classical music, this idea comes to mind. This picture was inspired by this song, especially when listening to Shalamar’s “Good Feeling.” Music and my paintings are always closely related.
1x: When was this piece created and what materials were used to create the original piece?
Honda: This piece was painted digitally in May of 2016. This painting was very fast. I drew it in about two days. But I painted more than 12 hours a day, I was very tired, but I did it until it was finished.
1x: What is unique about this image compared with your other work?
Honda: That is a very difficult question for me. I like the graffiti of the wall. It is the place I drew the most fun.
1x: Why should people buy this one of these prints?
Honda: I guess it is because people sympathize nostalgia when people see this picture. It is full of common old memories, and sweet memories that everyone has experienced. And then again, some people may not enjoy my work because is not perfect. If you are looking for perfect beauty like a photo, my work will probably not be funny to you.
1x: Describe this image in one gut reaction word.
Honda: Youth.
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1x: When did you first start making art? What was your first piece?
Honda: In 2011, when I started putting my work on Instagram, I began to draw something like graffiti. Unfortunately I do not remember which is the first piece. As a formal my work, the first thing I was conscious about was a picture of a room with a theme of Boy George.
1x: What artists inspired you early on? What artists inspire you now?
Honda: Early on it was Robert Able. The style of my work was inspired early on by Barbara Nessim who did the cover of Bobby Humphrey’s Fancy Dancer. I have a lot of my favorite artists, but I respect both of them very much.
1x: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?
Honda: Robert Able or Patrick Nagel. Because they love their work.
1x: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it? The last?
Honda: When I started painting I was really being influenced by music and the culture of the 1980s. The cover art of the record jackets was the first art I touched. My first album was Rio of Duran Duran. I still have it. Although I can not remember the last work that I bought, I swapped a picture with my friend Elena Eper. Even now I have carefully decorated my room with her paintings.
1 x: Any big shows or events coming up that you ‘d like to share?
Honda: I will be doing something for Adidas, for the Stella Sport and I also recently made a Tokyo City Guide Map. We will collaborate with Diesel and SS17. I will also be releasing my first sticker from Yu’s Baby sticker and Yu app. I was challenged to create an animation for the first time, so I’m happy if you enjoy it.
1xRUN: Where else can people find you?
Yoko Honda: Website – H+ Creative – Instagram @yokopium
-1xRUN