Jun Oson

Jun Oson was born in 1979 in Japan and started his career as an illustrator in 2005. Characters with a peanut-shaped feature were created at that time. His artworks have a stateless style based on the influence of manga and animations that he has been unconsciously influenced since childhood, with elements from artists around the world. Currently, His work is attracting attention around the world, including Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.

Hiroki Niimi: SPOTLIGHT

YOUR WORK OFTEN REVOLVES AROUND REPURPOSING DISCARDED VISUAL IMAGES. WHAT INITIALLY DREW YOU TO THIS METHOD, AND HOW HAS IT EVOLVED OVER TIME? 

I used to work as an art director at an advertising agency, and I actually felt like I was being consumed by society.

Advertisements are consumed as soon as they are created, so I reconstructed the advertisements that were used to last forever and developed them into artwork. As time passes, the motifs and media used have changed, but the concept has remained the same.

YOU DESCRIBE YOUR ART AS A FORM OF REBELLION AGAINST THE CONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC SYSTEM. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON HOW YOU SEE YOUR WORK CHALLENGING THESE STRUCTURES? 

By reconstructing the creatives consumed in society, we are also enlightening the consumer society.

⁠BEFORE BECOMING AN ARTIST, YOU WORKED IN ADVERTISING. HOW HAS THAT EXPERIENCE SHAPED YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON CREATIVITY AND THE WAY IT IS CONSUMED? 

I realized how quickly products are consumed, and how important quantity and production speed are rather than quality.

However, the more I learned about it, the more I felt empty.

YOUR ART OFTEN INCORPORATES FOUND IMAGERY FROM MANGA, MAGAZINES, AND ADVERTISING. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH IMAGES TO USE, AND WHAT ROLE DOES CHANCE PLAY IN YOUR PROCESS? 

Sometimes I give a meaning to the motif, and sometimes I choose it simply because it has a design that makes it easy to create a collage.

YOUR WORK IS OFTEN COMPARED TO MERZ PAINTINGS AND SIMULATIONISM, BUT IT ALSO HAS A DISTINCTLY CONTEMPORARY LYRICAL QUALITY. HOW DO YOU BALANCE HISTORICAL REFERENCES WITH YOUR OWN UNIQUE VOICE? 

I incorporate my background in design and architecture.

⁠YOUR ART ENGAGES WITH THE CYCLE OF CREATION AND DISPOSAL IN A WAY THAT FEELS BOTH CRITICAL AND POETIC. HOW DO YOU HOPE VIEWERS INTERPRET THIS COMMENTARY? 

I want people to feel a sense of crisis that there are many creators and creations that are being consumed all over the world, and that this number will continue to increase at an incredible speed.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN 4BYSIX APPROACHED YOU FOR THIS PROJECT? 

I was happy to be presenting in a country with a different culture than Japan, and I thought I could take on a new challenge.

⁠WHAT INTRIGUED YOU ABOUT COLLABORATING WITH A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LIKE 4BYSIX? 

Most of my work was at gallery exhibitions and art fairs, but I thought it would be an interesting new challenge.

⁠CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PIECE YOU CREATED FOR 4BYSIX? WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION, AND HOW DOES IT CONNECT TO YOUR BROADER BODY OF WORK? 

I created this series because I wanted to add more meaning to the works themselves. The copy in the motif is written by AI.

AI that takes away creators' jobs by telling them "don't consume creativity". It conveys the irony of consumer society.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE TO CONVEY TO THE AUDIENCE WHO WILL BE ENCOUNTERING YOUR WORK THROUGH THE 4BYSIX AUCTION? 

I hope people don't consume too much of the creators and artists of the world.

The auction itself is a cycle of consumption, but I pray that the work will reach someone who will love it forever.

YOUR ART CHALLENGES THE IDEA OF CREATIVITY AS A TOOL FOR MARKETING. DO YOU BELIEVE THERE IS A WAY TO RECLAIM ART FROM THIS SYSTEM, OR IS IT INEVITABLE THAT ART AND COMMERCE WILL ALWAYS BE INTERTWINED? 

I think they will always be intertwined. You can also use marketing better to make your voice louder.

I would be happy if I could make good use of the market system and successfully convey what I want to convey to the world.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUR ART, AND HOW DO YOU SEE THIS COLLABORATION WITH 4BYSIX PLAYING A ROLE IN YOUR JOURNEY?

Since I started my career as an artist, I have made many new friends, including team staff, gallery personnel, and collectors.

From now on, I would like to make more friends than just one person and continue my creative activities in a fun way.

Everyone from 4BYSIX will also be important friends who will remain in my career.