The brand “Banana to Yellow”, which proposes a new way of folding fans, is created by the artist “Fantasista”, who is active in New York and around the world.
Released collaboration products with Mr. Utamaro.
*Miyawaki Kaisenan Co., Ltd.*
Press release: August 9, 2024
**
The brand “Banana to Yellow”, which proposes a new way of folding fans, is created by the artist “Fantasista”, who is active in New York and around the world.
Released collaboration products with Mr. Utamaro.
*A trailer film containing the making of the production process will also be released at the same time. *
“BANANA to” is operated by Miyawaki Baisenan Co., Ltd. (Head office: Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, President: Tadamasa Minami)
YELLOW (Banana to Yellow)” is the artist “Fantasista” who is active in New York and around the world.
Collaboration products with “Utamaro” will be released in stores and online stores from Friday, August 9, 2024.
●List of collaboration products
*The concept is “The Fanciest cheesy souvenir made in Kyoto /* * The finest lost Ochanoma-style souvenirs” *
The concept of this project drawn by Fantasista Utamaro is
* “The Fanciest cheesy souvenir made in Kyoto / The best lost tea room souvenir”. *
“During the period of high economic growth in Japan, souvenir shops full of freedom and miscellaneous goods were lined up in tourist areas.The world view of miscellaneous and cheap souvenirs at that time was expressed as a free spirit that was not bound by anything. The idea for this project was born with the concept of creating a masterpiece (made in Kyoto) in this souvenir context.
There are three design motifs for the fan: “CEO”, “VIP”, and “OMG”, and “CEO” is the company president who was popular in the night scene of the Showa era! Mr. President! “VIP” literally refers to a super important person, and “OMG” means oh my god! Surprised! is. On the inside, I want to celebrate the tourists who visit Kyoto, the history of Kyoto folding fans that lasts over 1,200 years, and the people who have supported this culture up to the present day, so I praise them every time I use them. As a positive message, “YOU” The words “ARE THE BEST” have been designed into a design. ” (Fantasista Utamaro)
The artwork born from Mr. Utamaro’s thoughts is hand-finished one by one by craftsmen who have inherited the traditional culture of Kyoto fans, resulting in a fan that combines tradition and innovation. In addition to the three types of fans in the regular edition, we will also be selling a limited edition with the fan ribs finished with black lacquer.
Fantasista Utamaro Sensu (CEO)
Fantasista Utamaro Sensu (VIP)
Fantasista Utamaro Sensu (OMG)
Fantasista Utamaro Sensu (CEO) limited edition
Fantasista Utamaro Sensu (VIP) limited edition
Fantasista Utamaro Sensu (OMG) limited edition
Fantasista Utamaro Sensu (VIP) Back side
We also have a lineup of original T-shirts printed with the same motif as the folding fan. The “fan pocket” at the waist of the T-shirt is also part of the brand’s identity, and is a device that allows customers to always feel close to the folding fan.
Fantasista Utamaro 01 T-shirt (CEO) Front
Fantasista Utamaro 01 T-shirt (CEO) Back
Fantasista Utamaro 01 T-shirt (VIP) Front
Fantasista Utamaro 01 T-shirt (VIP) Back
Fantasista Utamaro 01 T-shirt (OMG) Front
Fantasista Utamaro 01 T-shirt (OMG) Back
Fantasista Utamaro 02 T-shirt (WHITE) Front
Fantasista Utamaro 02 T-shirt (SAND) Front
Fantasista Utamaro 02 T-shirt (BLACK) Front
fan pocket
* A trailer film that shows the making of the fan production process and a video interview that frankly talks about the background of the production will also be released at the same time *
Mr. Utamaro himself covered part of the process leading up to the commercialization of this collaboration folding fan, and Masahiro, a photographer who is a friend from New York.
We will also be releasing video works shot and produced by Mr. Takai. This video work pays respect to the handiwork of Kyoto fan craftsmen who have inherited a long tradition.
In addition, Mr. Utamaro and Miyawaki Baisenan Minami Tadamasa (Banana and Yellow
An interview video with Brand Director) will also be released at the same time. The video will be distributed not only in stores, but also on Banana and Yellow’s SNS, YouTube, etc.
Making trailer film and interview video are available on Banana to Yellow YouTube.
●Making trailer film
●Interview video
*Comment from Fantasista Utamaro*
Ten years have passed since I moved my base of activities to New York with the desire to deliver Japanese culture to the world in higher resolution through my own creations. Although I faced countless hardships while away from home in New York, I have been supported by the spirit of symbiosis (helping each other) inherent in Japanese culture and have continued to work hard on my creative activities.
Inspired by the self-proclaimed Japanese artists competing in the world, I began to want to value Japan’s long-lasting culture even more, and in my daily work I realized that I wanted to contribute to the development of Japanese traditional culture. I was having a good time. Meanwhile, we received an inquiry from Minami, the president of Miyawaki Kaisenan, about a collaboration between bananas and yellow oysters.
I also learned that folding fans originated in Japan and have been spread all over the world. Although it is now defined as a tool to beat the heat, I was moved to learn that fans originally existed as spaces between people and as letters. Did the emojis we now use every day on our smartphones have their roots in Kyoto folding fans? and. In the past, folding fans existed as a tool for flexible communication between people.
I was deeply moved to learn that this flexible etiquette, which can be called “hospitality,” which the Japanese have cultivated over a long period of time, first appeared in this world in the form of a folding fan 1,200 years ago, and has been passed down throughout the world. . I created this artwork with a sense of mission and the desire to dedicate my life to somehow convey this beautiful culture and context to the modern world. Through this project, I would like to convey the long-standing cultural philosophy to the world with my folding fan.
I, Fantasista, continue to create unconventional works that have lived only with spirit and love and the creative eyes of Mr. Tadamasa Minami, an avant-garde, heretical and most creative man in the Kyoto folding fan world.
Utamaro’s eyes (EYES) intersected and created chemistry, and this fan was born. If I may say so myself, this is my most confident work. I hope everyone can pick it up and feel this love. Come on, let’s go to Kyoto now! OMG!
* Artist profile *
* Fantasista Utamaro *
As an artist, creative director, art director, and animation director, he is based in New York, creates artwork inspired by Japanese pop culture, and continues to share Japanese culture with the world through his own creations. The infinitely proliferating artwork is installed in all kinds of media, and the range of his activities continues to expand borderlessly, not only in art but also in design, fashion, and video.
So far, he has collaborated with global brands such as Sanrio, SK-II, Nike, Apple, Google, Uniqlo, GU, Netflix, and SevenEleven, as well as pop artists such as Pharrell Williams, Hatsune Miku, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, and Dempagumi Inc. He has also done many collaborations. In recent years, in 2022, the trailer film for the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Tokyo Olympics, which he participated in as art director, won a British Academy Award BAFTA.
http://www.fantasistautamaro.com
*Product information*
Fan (regular edition, 3 types) ¥13,200 (tax included)
Fan (limited edition, 3 types) ¥55,000 (tax included)
T-shirts (6 types in total) ¥7,700 each (tax included)
●List of collaboration products
Release date: August 9, 2024 (Thursday) 11:00~
・BANANA to YELLOW directly managed store (80-3 Daikokucho,
Rokkaku-dori Tomikoji Higashiiriru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City)
・Online store (https://banana-to-yellow.jp/)