Yoshimitsu Umekawa

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atipikaJAPAN has two main sections: Island Project and Portfolio
What are you presenting for each section?
For Portfolio section I dropped 4 works from "IN RAM" series, which is my own art project -- 2 works called "IN RAM", and 2 works called "OUT RAM".
For the DVD, I submitted 2 works--the one is from "IN RAM" series, and
another one is called "NIPPS diary " (the title not fixed yet), which is the
documentary film of the most important rappers, NIPPS of Buddha Brand

What inspired the work you present?
It's a difficult question really... I can't give you specific names or works
as I could be inspired by anything, anyone. Those works came out of everyday life I'm having, naturally.

What technique, medium, software, etc did you use?
For the book, I used the means of photography (print), and soft wares like Photoshop and illustrator. And for the DVD, DV, After Effects, DVJ,
Photoshop and Illustrator were used.

Please tell us about you:
The most wanted R.I.P. photographer known for his "massive style" made out of very sophisticated technique and ill'n'dope'n'fresh "MASS:AGE" that he receives from spiritual zone. His works can be seen in various media, from Japanese and foreign magazines, advertising campaigns to CD jackets.
In 2003, Mr. Umekawa droped a highly conceptual art project "IN RAM". The first work of the project is the website called "DANCE HOLE", in which
visitors can experience the sort of psychic browser crashing while
appreciating his conceptual works. HTTP://WWW.UMEKAWAYOSHIMITSU.COM

In 2004, he shot the still pictures for the feature film "TORI" (DDD-DVD
Label), world's renowned actor Tadanobu Asano's first directed film. The
works were exhibited with those by EYヨ (VooREDOMS) and hikaru J at the exhibition "CPF meet TORI EXHIBITION". Both the film and the exhibition made a massive splash throughout Japan.

Besides it, Mr. Umekawa shot a short movie of a legendary NY graffiti
artist/rapper RAMM:ELL:ZEE, which has been broadcast on the popular CS
channel "SPACE SHOWER TV". (Directed by Naohiro Ukawa)

Other current works include a serialized photo story in "Switch" magazine,
"GODFATHER", which is the reportage of the dopest deep house party of the same name. For the pages, he has been touring old school discos throughout Japan with DJ Toru Takahashi, Moodman and Naohiro Ukawa. Also, he has now been participating in a group exhibition "FRAMED" at BBS gallery in Harajuku, Tokyo, curated by Surface 2 Air.

Who do you normally work for? corporate clients, artists, music...?
magazines: "SWITCH" "SPECTATOR" "TOKION" "STUDIO VOICE" "EYESCREAM" "NYLON Japan" etc...
music labels: Sony Music Entertainment, Victor, Columbia Music Entertainment,
TV: Space Shower Network Inc.
other clients: CAMEL, A-net Inc.
artists: RAMM:ELL:ZEE, Hiroshi Sone, Surface 2 Air, JAYPEG (aka illdozer), Naohiro Ukawa, Gento Matsumoto, EYヨ (VooREDOMS), Masaya Nakahara (aka HAIR STYLISTICS), etc...
Japanese musicians: NIPPS (BUDDHA BRAND), Buffalo Daughter, bonobos, Yasuyuki Okamura, Dr. Secret with the Emperors, Ken Yokoyama, Roman Porsche, etc...
Foreign musicians: Animal Collective, !!!, James Chance, The RAPTURE, Richie Hawtin, Krust, Sven Vath, Judge Jules, etc.

Do you normally spend time and resouces in non-profit or artistic projects?
Yes, sometimes . Because, not always of course, the concepts of those projects seems more interesting. Also, those could be the places to present my works.