New York is not a city one automatically associates with the Japanese concept of kawaii ¡ª lovably, irresistibly, dependably cute. But if Sebastian Masuda, the so-called ¡°king of kawaii,¡± has his way, the mean streets of ¡°Goodfellas¡± may one day emanate a candy-colored glow.
Or at least his street will. Best known for founding the iconic Harajuku fashion shop-cum-global brand 6%Dokidoki in 1995, Masuda wears many hats, both career-wise and atop his head. Before becoming a fashion guru, he was an actor in Tokyo¡¯s avant-garde theater scene, which is where he picked up the Western moniker for his persona, ¡°Sebastian¡± (he keeps his Japanese birth name unpublished). In 2009, he led a tour to promote kawaii fashion in cities across Europe and the United States, hosting workshops, seminars and events to explain what he calls its ¡°uniquely Japanese aesthetic appeal.¡± And since 2011, he has been the artistic and conceptual director for global pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, helping create the mega-hit YouTube video for her single ¡°Ponponpon¡± (nearly 62 million views as I write).
Now he is debuting as an artist ¡ª albeit one who dresses like a diminutive Willy Wonka and sports an array of furry multicolored top hats. His first-ever solo show, ¡°Colorful Rebellion ¡ª Seventh Nightmare,¡± opened at the end of February at Kianga Ellis Projects gallery in Chelsea, the epicenter of Manhattan¡¯s art world, and runs through March 29. When we met last week in the gallery¡¯s reception space, Masuda underlined his current commitment to being an artist first. (His hat was a modest light gray, but still furry.)
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