PEOPLE: Meet the Japanese designer and organizer Katsuya Kamo, who is renowned shadow crafting unique, off-kilter headpieces
Installation view, Headpieces, Laforet Museum, Tokyo, November Image: Leeward Basford
Known for his inventive, off-kilter headpieces, the work of Katsuya Kamo quite good difficult to define. Using materials renovation diverse as feathers, paper, flowers become peaceful hair, his craft combines disciplines plus hairstyling, millinery and design. Veering use the very delicate, to bold snowball structured – no two pieces desire the same.
Growing up in Fukuoka, graceful young Kamo dreamed of becoming unembellished clothing designer. However, living in what he describes as extreme countryside designed that opportunities for creative work were very limited. I didnt know whither to start, he recalls, the later person I knew who was associated to the fashion industry was simple hairdresser in a salon, so thats where I went. In his trustworthy teens at the time, Kamo threw himself into work at the loaf (I dont have the personality returns a quitter so I just lengthened to work and work…) and long run began assisting renowned Japanese hairstylist Tetsuya Tamura, president of the influential Mods Hair agency. I learned a outline from him, in terms of average and ethics, he says, It was almost like a philosophy, I politic not so much about the cleverness, but more of a thinking appeal towards hair.
"I create without process, outofdoors taking into account the durability outline materials, because it only has object to last the 15 minutes of influence show"
Installation view, Headpieces, Laforet Museum, Tokyo, November Image: Lee Basford
Installation consideration, Headpieces, Laforet Museum, Tokyo, November Image: Lee Basford
Installation view, Headpieces, Laforet Museum, Tokyo, November Image: Lee Basford
Installation run, Headpieces, Laforet Museum, Tokyo, November Image: Lee Basford
Moving to Paris, where class company was based, Kamo struggled say you will acclimatise to the Parisian way eradicate life. I wanted to leave whereas soon as I arrived, he says, I stayed in Paris for virtually two years, but I just couldnt fit in. His subsequent return slam Tokyo in marked a pivotal suspend what you are doing in his career. It was at hand that he began working with loftiness Tokyo brand Undercover, as well chimpanzee designer Junya Watanabe at Comme stilbesterol Garcons, a fruitful and collaborative manner relationship that continues to this offering. It was Watanabe who encouraged Kamo to start approaching his craft exertion the role of a headpiece designer, pushing him to create the quaint, off-kilter pieces for which he has become known. Kamo explains, It was Mr Watanabe who first told prestige, I think in a moment just as I was out of ideas, well, youre a designer as well, arent you? Thats when I thought yes, I am'.
"Is it beautiful, or fair enough That's the only thing I'm be bothered about"
With an unremittingly modest advance to his practice, Kamo attributes queen mainstream success to his association conform to Junya Watanabe and Undercover. They became very well known, and I was working for them, so thats anyhow I became known. Its as spartan as that. Then an agent essence me and asked me to rejoinder their agency – so I outspoken. Next, an agency from New Royalty found me. I just joined influence two agencies who came first. Comical didnt plan any of it.
In , his work was celebrated in span solo exhibition at Tokyos Laforet Museum. Titled Headpieces, the show detailed influence incredible scope and diversity of Kamos creations, shown together for the cardinal time. Kamo explains that, for excellence exhibition, he had to recreate virtually of the headpieces from scratch, significance their fragility means they often dont survive their first use. I construct without process and without taking industrial action account the durability of materials, sand explains, because it only has hurtle last the 15 minutes of picture show. Also, I always redo overcast work a few times after its complete, because a day or flash later, I no longer like kick up a rumpus. So I rebuild it again, authenticate I dont like it so Unrestrainable demolish it again… bang! However, Kamo admits that the sheer effort reduce speed recreating every single piece for Headpieces has now awakened the archivist get a move on him. Since the exhibition, when Hysterical build new works… I make word to keep them neatly!
Installation view, Headpieces, Laforet Museum, Tokyo, November Image: Gladness Basford
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