The wonderful magazine Ysin Embargo Issue#12 recently was published with Jacob Schere’s images setting off the mood for the issue. Described by the magazine as:

“the habits of our habitats. Or… habits of those little things that doesn’t appear on tourist-guides but they’re what we remember of cities. Details. The gap between the “modern way of living” and the way most people actually live. Routine’s things. The paradox of an everexpanding interconnected world and people every time more alone. The superficial way of nowadays relationships.”

I explored my surroundings here in Tokyo. What is it that I see everyday in the world that surrounds me. The boy playing on the jungle gym, or the waterway I pass everyday in my comings and goings. In addition other great artist came out in the same issue such as JP Candelier and “R” ZoneTo view the entire issue plase visit the Ysin Embargo Website.To view my images from the magazine please click on the slide show below.

Another fine production from the world of Art for Humans. The current theme is movement. That is movent in sense of transportation and getting images from trains, planes and automobiles anythng that moves the masses. Diya Sarker of India, others along with I are featured to this project. In addition, AFH has opened a new art gallery in Chinatown in Los Angles, so if you are there in LA go check it out.Art for Humans Gallery Chinatown945 Chungking RoadLos Angles, Ca212-621-7685to view my submisson as slides click hereto view all the wonderful art on Moving Earth on the Art for Humans website click here.

My recent journey to Paris yielded a wealth of images. Everywhere my eye gazed I was memorized by what I saw. Lovely buildings, luscious skies, ancient monuments, and the Parisians themselves. I payed homage to the great Eugene Atget by visiting a retrospective of his work. I felt so inspired to wander the same Parisian streets he wandered many years ago.

I hope you enjoy may view of Paris.

click on the image to view the whole series

I wanted to post this article of mine that was published by the Japanese magazine Chuokoron [ Central Review ] Magazine back in 2002, April . It was my reaction to the events of 9-11 when I visited the devastated city in November of 2001. It was the first time that an editor asked me to write about the images that they published.

Below is a translation of the article written by Akasaka Mari, and my comments on each picture.
1. This is how most Americans see our current situation ;however, there is a thin line between fanaticism
and patriotism.

2. In order to survive you have to show your patriotism on your place of business. If you happen to be Muslim or an Arab then you have to prove your patriotism even more.

3. The site has become the number one tourist attraction in NYC. I wonder why Americans, and tourists would want to keep photos of the destruction in their family albums.

4. Whoever put this graffiti up in my eyes is a true patriot. They are putting America ahead of any fabric, paper or dollars.

5. All that are left of the WTC are images, memories preserved on celluloid, and cheap souvenirs.

6. Only in America can I find whips, feather boas, and how much money has been raised for the fire fighters fund. Red, White and Hot Pink.

7. How did this tiny creature survive the destruction and why is this boy here. Humans can be kind to animals but often he are inhumane to other humans.

8. People should think about similarities between cultures; however, it is easier to point out differences and use that to subjugate them.

You are a Jewish American
by Mari Akasaka

I have been wondering who is this person? I only know his first name because his name is embroidered in Katakana on his Aikido belt. I figured out that he is American and probably Jewish. He stands out at the Aikido dojo where I go. He has some sort of mystic silence about him. This somehow reminds me of Budo [martial arts.] Not too oreintalistic but balanced. It’s like touching universality through Budo. Budo itself is that. In other words, he’s good at seeing the universality in his pictures, and accessing that methodology. That’s why wherever he is, he is balanced.

That is a characteristic of his personality and the Jewish collective personality. I’m envious of someone who naturally reflects the characteristics of his group. Japanese tend to be apart from that. The first time that I talked with him was at last years big Aikido Demonstration. He was a little bit down because he made an interesting mistake whereas he wasn’t able to make it to the finals. He performed perfectly but it wasn’t the correct technique. I found out that he has a light-hearted side. “I was confused today,” he said. That was the first weekend after the September 11 incident. “Is Jacob the disciple of Yakov?” I asked. “That’s right, I’m a Jew.” he replied. I wanted to ask this question first but he answered it right away. The story Yakov [ Jacob ] is from the Old Testament. “What do you think about the incident, the people’s reaction, the principles of Americanism and the strategies of the Media as a Jewish American?”

These questions grew in my mind. There were so many financial agencies in the WTC. Jews have traditionally been strong in this field, that means it aimed right at the point of connections between Jews and Americans. I think there is a famous saying in America “Don’t talk about politics and religion” What I’m trying to say is that there is a complex that is politics, religion and economics are intensely interconnected and there is a military behind it all. I had to ask these questions. [ These might be in the next issue ] The pictures are an extension of these conversational exchanges. One day he said some impressive words, “I have no culture, I only have the bits and pieces of culture that I have picked up along the way.”

Photos and description
Jacob Schere

Essay
Mari Akasaka

Published
Chuokoron [ Central Review ]
2002, April

The opening of the Pacific Arts Collective COLLABO joint show was a smashing sucess. All mediums were represented, and fresh vibes blasted over the sound system. I was not able to attend but my mate Dubfly captured some dope pics. Thanks Dubfly!

To take you into Dubfly’s World click here.

there is more to come as always.

Recently came out in the new online magazine Burrow Arts. A collection of fresh art in various mediums. Also in the same edition the photographic stylings of my friend Be.

Click here to take you to Burrow Magazine to see the whole issue.

Here is the first of many to be collaborations between the French magazine BLACKPOOL and m2c. The article I wrote is about the street art scene in Tokyo and the Yokohama street art happening. Unfortunately the article is only written in French. Enjoy the magazine.

Click here to take you to the BLACKPOOL home page.

Click here to take you to thier Blackpool myspace page.

Here is the English unedited article. Originally published by Blackpool Magazine May 2007

Saguragicho: Street Art Haven

So are you down for some super heights street art? Get your respirators on, brushes in hand, cans shaken just right and let head out to Yokohama. Street art has a vibrant subculture in Tokyo and its surrounding neighborhoods. All styles were represented from wheat pasting, stenciling, stickers and of course graff. One stop on the Kehin-Tohoku train line past Yokohama, lay a 1 km wall of graff and street art. Over a one-month period SOTW [Saguragicho On The Wall] sponsored by Kompostion, and the city of Saguragicho artist gathered and bombed the walls with colorful expression. Artist from all over Japan and the world splashed paint on the walls at the weekend jams from Feb 3rd to March 4th 2007.

Here in Japan, not only is graffiti against the law its is barely understood by the city dwellers. Some of the younger generations are hip to the street art stylings even if it is an underground subculture with in a subculture of Hip Hop. Some Tokyo neighborhoods like Shibuya, Naka Meguro Shimo-Kitazawa and Kichijyoji walls are covered in paint. Rakugaki [literally: intention less drawing], the traditional Japanese style graffiti is usually in the Akira loves Yoko fashion, or written by the Bozozoku, Motorcycle gangs who mark out their territory with drippy black Japanese characters. Good spray paint is a bit harder to come by so writers often swap caps from other kinds of spray cans in order to get the lines and spray patterns they are looking for. There is an on going battle between the local communities and the writers; some spots are buffed almost as soon as they get bombed. Other neighborhoods because there is so much graff writing the buffing is less frequent. The hippest writers scout out areas that don’t get buffed or they wait for the legal pieces. Graff in Japan was the last of the elements of Hip Hop culture to reach the streets, and still the writers are behind the pioneers in the US or Europe. It hasn’t reached a level of mastery or popularity as it has in the rest of the world.

VERY and BASK are considered to be the top writers around the city. Most of their pieces up are legal pieces, and VERY has exhibited in galleries. The writer EKYS has caught the most fame as a mad bomber with tags, throw ups and small pieces all over Tokyo. Next time you are in Tokyo you are bound to see EKYS posted up somewhere in the city. The penalties for getting caught are severe and those busted will have to reimburse private citizens for thousands of euros in damages. Most Japanese writers don’t start writing until their 20’s, where as; in the states most start off as teenagers, obsessed with the adrenaline thrill of jumping fences and doing illegal pieces. The writers I met we surprised by the youth of UK writer MIRA at age 24. Painted subway cars are pretty much unheard of here. MIRA kept asking the other writers “Do you paint trains?”?? The resounding answer was ?????NO, it is very difficult!????? they all said they were afraid of getting busted painting on trains. There were dozens of video cameras set up by the Japanese writers when they did the legal pieces. They are pretty serious about the whole documenting the process of changing a blank wall to one covered with aerosol paint.

Each artist and or group registered for space in Saguragicho and was given a 5m by 4m piece of the wall per person to do with whatever they pleased. Nike provided all the participants with nifty black SOTW windbreakers. It would have been better if Nike had provided cases of paint! In contrast to sponsored jams I’ve been to in the States, where Rustoleum or Krylon had donated cases of paint here in Saguragicho artist had to supply all their own materials.

I met a group of fresh graff writers all the way from Peru who are currently based in Yokosuka, Japan. It was a jambalaya of language because the common tongue was Japanese, spiced with a bit of English and Spanish thrown in. A big shout out to the whole Peruvian krew: KEP, EKC, BAMC and LI3.

Street art is about pure expression, uninhibited by society. A last resort to reach out to the community and make your voice heard. Whether its purely about catching fame, taking a stance on a social issue, or Questioning authority, art on the wall goes way back, and its good to see it get some props out in Yokohama.

Jacob Schere
Tokyo 2007