Ryo Matsuoka: Play Pray Paint

27 Feb 2006 Category: Events & Exhibitions, Features, Graphics, Japan

Ryo, the Painter is wearing a cap low over his eyes and spreads paint violently over a blank wall with his bare hands. The entire wall is his canvas, covered in his aggressive painting. Play Pray Paint is what he calls these sessions - which have been held in numerous venues throughout Tokyo spreading - the word about his uniquely wild works and his painting style. At one point, word reached Yohji Yamamoto who asked Ryo to collaborate for his collection in Paris. Travelling on a different route, the news about Ryo made it to an exhibition at L’ECLAIREUR. Whatever may happen - one thing is certain: he will keep on drawing!

A free hand, a free mind and the love for beer: we interviewed painter Ryo Matsuoka with a pint.

written by Kaori
Photo by Ayano

Ryo, I come across your large-sized works in various shops and bars around Tokyo. I also heard that Play Pray Paint will be visiting Sapporo and Osaka soon. A DVD and book publications are also planned… How did you get it all started?

I always loved to scribble. During my high school years I started traveling with sketchbooks. I literally drew everyday, so they became picture diaries. Whenever I returned from my travels, I went to my favorite bar talking about my trips, experiences and showing my sketchbooks. People who saw those sketches told me they wanted the pictures for their homes and even offered to buy them. That made me realize that my paintings needn’t be confined to sketchbooks, so I started to move from there into the world of painting.

Your painting sessions titled “Play Pray Paint” can be seen as performances: like you are forgetting yourself as you freely paint in front of an audience. I’m impressed by the energy you generate, your color splashing, the image constantly changing….. How did you come up with this painting style?

Personally, having a “style” doesn’t seem so important to me. I never thought about establishing “The Matsuoka Style” or anything, I didn’t particularly wish to pigeonhole myself. It is not a “performance”, this painting with audiences, nor is it a “painting show”. I simply want people to enjoy and share the moment where pure creation exists - preferably with a full glass in their hands. It is similar to a child scribbling on the ground for hours and hours with amazing concentration…. Some grown ups might wonder: why the hell are kids doing that? Maybe it is nothing else but playing, but I consider it the “purest” moment of creativity. That is how Play Pray Paint started.

You participated in Yohji Yamamoto’s Autumn/Winter Paris Collection 04-05. How did that happen and what did you do there?

For years have I been painting in many places. One person saw it and told it to another and eventually it got passed on all the way and made a connection. It all came really suddenly! I made original painting works for their T-shirts and knitted clothes for the collection. The paintings were then used for the collection same year… It was an unforgettable experience!

Seems like you just keep drawing and things fall into place: you meet some people through your painting, they encourage you to paint more, at the next event you meet different people again and before you know it, I find your work on the front cover of Paul Auster’s translated poem collection KABE NO MOJI (Letters on the wall)! How?

I personally loved Paul Auster for writing the film “Smoke”(1995). I never imagined that anything would lead me to him, though. Then one day, I met this editor at the 5th bar I went to while partying and purely by coincidence this editor turned out to be the publisher of this very book: KABE NO MOJI. It took almost a whole year to complete the cover design. Everyone involved in this publication dedicated so much energy and passion to the project…

The Japanese title “KABE NO MOJI” (letters on a wall), was taken from Auster’s episodes he created in his poor years when he wrote poems on wall with fingers dipped in ink. The editor thought that I had something in common with Paul Auster - including being a heavy drinker! Paul Auster talks about accidents and fate in his work and I can’t help but feel a deep connection to all of that…

I heard that you’re often found on Tokyo roof tops…?

Right! On those perfect sunny days I just keep finding nice looking buildings and go up all the way to the top: spread some paper and start painting. I call this series “Tokyo Okujyo (Roof Tops)”… Hmm… or maybe I could also call it “Tokyo Walks”!? The guards sometimes find me but then I just say “Sorry, it’s a school project!”… with a beer in my hand! (big smile)

Careful with those drinks!
Weren’t you also asked to paint in Berlin last year?

Yes! Originally I was asked to paint at the music festival called Popkomm by this German girl whom I met during another trip to New York. But then I also got chances to paint in various other places like clothes shops, etc. At one point I was offered a huge, totally empty room, which was part of what used to be an old beer factory renting out other rooms to shops and event spaces.

You don’t just paint, but tend to use various materials for your work. I’ve seen these colorful cutting sheets…?

I often use acrylic paints, but I have been working on embroidery for long time. I use the sewing machine to create these fierce patterns. Other than that I paint on plates, clothes, etc. I just utilize what I have at that moment.

You have started a new activity “SOUMA” with a film director Daisuke Shimada, and a musician Akeboshi.

We wanted to do something serious but playful. We just had our first event at Superdeluxe on February 22nd 2006.

It liked it a lot! Daisuke Shimada had taken visuals of me drawing in advance and I painted over the projected image of myself drawing, along with Akeboshi’s music. It was such a resonance and felt like a jazz session. A beautiful event.

What are your aspirations?

Meeting people and their friends, drinking beer - that’s more than enough to keep me painting. I just wish I could have an endless day of painting that lasted forever…

KANPAI! A toast to your painting life! Thanks a lot!

49 Comments

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