Ryuji Kamiyama
Stupid Bubbles, 2023
550,00€
The embroidery “Stupid Bubbles” is a work created on a linen base, adorned with loops around the eyes. Its design required the precise execution of no less than 570,010 stitches. This creation is a limited edition, comprising only 30 copies, all hand-signed and numbered, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
Dimensions: H.52 cm x W.52 cm (framed)
Ryuji Kamiyama
Kamiyama was born in 1972 in Tokyo. During his primary school years, Picasso’s black and white composition and expression in “Guernica” had a tremendous influence on him.
His frequent use of neon colors is inspired by his own childhood experiences, where he perceived the sensual atmosphere of Kabukicho in Shinjuku during the 1980s as fluorescent shades. He started listening to punk and hardcore music in elementary school, thanks to his brother, and discovered skateboarding when he saw it on a record cover during his middle school years. After that, he became passionate about skateboarding and started skating every night.
The friends he met during that time became a valuable resource for him and his career. In 1991, Kamiyama began screen printing T-shirts as a means of artistic expression. This activity later evolved into a nationwide brand, FAMOUZ, in 1993. He created all the graphic designs for the brand’s products, which achieved huge success within the “Ura-Harajuku” movement that took place in Tokyo during the 1990s.
When the brand celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2003, Kamiyama left it behind to focus more on his career as an artist. In the same year, his first solo exhibition titled “NEWARD” took place at the depot in Nakameguro, Tokyo, followed by another solo exhibition titled “TURD” at the FIFTY24SF gallery in California, USA, and a group exhibition in Los Angeles in 2004. Since then, he has been active globally, organizing a group exhibition in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2005, as well as solo exhibitions in Japan. He uses a wide range of tools to create his work, from spray paint and brushes to screen printing, optimizing his open-minded approach. A wall in his studio is considered his source of inspiration, as he often finds ideas by sketching preliminary drawings on the wall.
Kamiyama offers works in collaboration with various companies, including UNITED ARROWS, BEAMS, FREAKS STORE, JOURNAL STANDARDS, adidas ORIGINALS, bern, STRIDER, lesque skateboards, NIXON, GRAVIS, etc. Additionally, he is part of an outdoor group where he immerses himself in nature. He formed an artistic group called “ULTRA HEAVY” with a fashion stylist, Akira Ishikawa, and the illustrator/art director Jerry Ukai. He now operates a clothing brand that bears his name.