Masuda Sebastian Exhibition “Yes, Kawaii is Art’ Held in Kitakagaya, Osaka’s City of Art

30.September.2021 | FASHION / SPOT

Artist Masuda Sebastian will be holding the ‘Yes, Kawaii is Art’ exhibition in Osaka and Kyoto. The exhibition will be starting in Kitakagaya, Osaka’s City of Art, held between October 30 and November 30.

 

The exhibition explores the current state of ‘Kawaii,’ a keyword which has influenced the world, along with a selection of Masuda Sebastian’s works.

In 2020, Masuda started conversations with Kawaii communities across the globe to light up the world with vivid colors following the pandemic. What is Kawaii? Why does Kawaii surpass borders, generations, and gender, as the community moves onwards? This exhibition investigates the depths and new possibilities that Kawaii offers, through the works of Masuda Sebastian and his activities as an activist. 

 

 

Special Focus

 

Venue 1: Japan’s First Colorful Room Exhibition

The first venue features a full-room installation titled ‘Colorful Rebellion Seventh Nightmare.’ 

The piece was first released in 2014 and was created as a self-portrait representing the seven deadly sins. Following its first exhibition in Chelsea, New York, it has since been exhibited in Florida’s Young at Art Museum, Milano’s Milano Salone, Amsterdam’s Tropenmuseum, and Antwerp’s Museum aan de Stroon. This will be the first exhibition of this work in Japan.

 

 

Second Venue: An Experience Based on the Artist’s Memories

The second venue features the experience-type exhibit, ‘Fantastic Voyage.’ The piece, which was originally shown for just three days in Tokyo during February 2021, has been reworked and will be exhibited once more. The art reflects the current world, where everything is rapidly changing due to the Covid pandemic. 

A transparent capsule drifts through space, travelling through a world studded with snippets of sound and words. Both the guest experiencing this world and the person within the capsule are experiencing the same time together without exchanging words. It is the concept and prototype of “a device that imagines the future in an isolated world.” The performance lasts for 30 minutes, reaching deep into the viewer’s senses.

 

 

Venue Three: Harajuku’s Famous World Time Clock is Revived in Two New Forms

The third venue features the famous ‘Colorful Rebellion -WORLD TIME CLOCK-,’ a piece which was beloved by the city of Harajuku since its unveiling in 2015, remembered by tourists from all over the world. The original 2015 world clock, which was displayed on the streets of Harajuku, has been reconstructed while retaining the original faded materials. The 2019 version, which was made based on the colors of the original world clock, will also be displayed. 

 

The Tokyo exhibition was expected to open in September 2021 but was postponed due to Covid-19. Details for the new exhibition dates will be announced in the future. 

 

“I want to see the future of Kawaii. That is why I cannot stop creating; that is what drives me.” – Masuda Sebastian. 

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    On March 14, ASOBISYSTEM’s idol project KAWAII LAB. held a live event at Spotify O-EAST. The event, titled KAWAII LAB. SESSION ~CANDY TUNE~, saw the first-ever performance from CANDY TUNE, the newest idol group from KAWAII LAB, also known for creating the popular groups FRUITS ZIPPER and IDOLATER.

     

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    Suzuka Chinzei also congratulated CANDY TUNE on its debut during the MC portion of the performance. FRUITS ZIPPER also promised to keep the stage lively until it was their turn to perform at their own debut show.

     

    The group then performed Happy Chocolate, a popular song currently trending on TikTok. Their comical and cute choreography spread into the audience where fans mimicked their moves, making it a truly sweet and memorable moment.

     

    As the girls began performing the fast-paced song Kanpeki Shugide☆, the mood in the venue took a turn, and things became much more lively. As expected, the group performed the massively-popular track Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro as the finale, and just as Suzuka promised, the audience was all warmed up for CANDY TUNE to finally take the stage!

     

    Just as was the case with IDOLATER, another major announcement was made during the MC portion. The first KAWAII LAB Official Fan Club event for FRUITS ZIPPER was announced to take place on April 10 at Shirokane Takanawa SELENE b2. The group’s first live show was originally scheduled to take place at this venue on April 10 last year, but it was postponed due to the pandemic.

    Finally, it was time for the new group CANDY TUNE to appear. Misa Kimura took to the stage first “I’m so nervous,” she said to the audience. “Can we get some cheers?”

     

    The fans erupted with loud applause, and soon after, the seven members of the group–Rino Fukuyama, Mizuki Kirihara, Natsu Minami, Nanako Ogawa, Bibian Murakawa, Shizuka Miyano, and Kotomi Tachibana–took their first steps onto the stage, ready to share the wonders of Harajuku with the world.

     

    Dressed in colorful outfits, they first performed hanamaru, a song written to cheer up anyone who listens to it. The girls were clearly a little nervous, but they danced as hard as they could, obviously doing their very best. As the song blended into Kiss Me Patissier, the audience erupted–it was hard to believe that this was the first time that the song had ever been performed live. The song is one of the most popular tracks from the group’s first album, and its flirty lyrics immediately melted fans’ hearts.

    During the MC, Murakawa, a former HKT48 member and veteran idol, spoke to the fans. “Isn’t this venue too full,” she said with a laugh. Each girl introduced herself, offering some insight into why they had become idols and what they hoped to achieve going forward. It seemed that their time chatting had cut through the tension, and they performed Nanairo Prologue in high spirits. As if in sync with the members, the fans' voltage also rose to a fever pitch, and following the performance of Mikan na Seishun, the audience exploded with thunderous applause. After all four songs from the group’s first album had been performed, it was revealed that, like the senior groups in KAWAII LAB, CANDY TUNE also had a surprise to reveal. On the big screen, it was announced that CANDY TUNE’s first solo live performance would be held at Spotify O-WEST on June 27. The members immediately shouted with joy.

     

    “Aren’t you full yet,” Murakawa asked the audience, before announcing one more song.

     

    CANDY TUNE performed hanamaru again, but unlike the first time, a music video produced in secret for the occasion played on the screen. Sounds of surprise and excitement immediately erupted from those in the audience.

     

    The audience's voltage was at its highest during this performance, which was synchronized with the music video featuring the members in cute cheerleader outfits and a picnic scene that their friendship with one other. Although it was their first time on stage together, the seven members showed as much poise and dignity as their seniors.

     

    At the end, each member shared a message with their fans. “I have a bad habit of second-guessing my own happiness. There have been so many times in my life when I wonder if I should be as happy as I am–but right now, I’m so incredibly overjoyed,” said Fukuyama.

     

    “I was so nervous before we got here,” said Kirihara. “But when I saw all of your faces, I knew from the bottom of my heart that I had made the right choice to become an idol!”

     

    “Even if I’m reborn, I hope to stand on this same stage again,” said Minami while crying.

     

    “I didn’t really feel like an idol until today, and I was so afraid to stand up here in front of a packed audience,” said Ogawa. “I never thought I’d be an idol,” echoed Tachibana. Both showed intense appreciation for the countless fans that had gathered at the venue.

     

    “I will always cherish this moment,” said Miyano. “I hope to make many more memories in the future!”

     

    “I never thought I could care for people so quickly after meeting them,” said Murakawa, shedding a few tears. “I have so much love and affection for everyone, and I want the seven of us to keep working hard to share Harajuku with the world. Standing here now, I know that we can become an idol group loved around the globe!”

     

    After each group had finished their performances, all 19 idols from all three KAWAII LAB groups stood on the same stage together.

    As a final surprise, Misa Kimura announced that KAWAII LAB. SESSION would be held on June 12 at Zepp Shinjuku, a venue scheduled to open in April. “I’m so excited that we get to perform at Zepp,” said FRUITS ZIPPER member Yui Sakurai.

     

    With excitement in the venue still building, the final performance and the long-awaited collaboration began. All 19 members formed a circle and began to perform FRUITS ZIPPER’s breakout hit Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro. Fans in the audience were permitted to record during this part of the concert, and after the show concluded, countless videos were posted to social media sites.

     

    A project to shoot a TikTok video of Happy Chocolate with the audience also took place at the end of the event. FRUITS ZIPPER member Mana Manaka gave a brief explanation of the choreography before taking a video of the fans gathered at the venue. The night ended as the idols and fans danced together.

     

    KAWAII LAB is continuing to produce cutting-edge idols ready to be shared with the world. With the addition of CANDY TUNE, the future is looking bright, and fans will want to watch out for what’s coming next.

    Text: Masatoshi Mayuzumi Photo: Shinsuke Hayashi / Miki Higashi

     

    ■Setlist

    [IDOLATER] Kesenai…(short ver.) Endless Summer Vapor City Kimi ni MuCHU♡XX Mahouno Kagiwo Teniiretara DIAMOND Endrollwo Mukaeru Maeni   [FRUITS ZIPPER] RADIO GALAXY Sekaiwa Kimikara Hajimaru Happy Chocolate Kanpeki Shugide☆ Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro   [CANDY TUNE] hanamaru Kiss Me Patissier Nanairo Prologue Mikanna Seishun hanamaru (MV.ver)   [KAWAII LAB.] Watashi no Ichiban Kawaiitokoro