Hiroko Koshino has an incredible capacity to create in any medium. Painting, fashion, ceramics, nothing frightens her. Here, she surprises a little more by taking a special interest in the Olympic Games. She, who often works on one-off pieces, changes. She rediscovers her talents as a designer-stylist for Prêt-à-porter and adapts to the needs of athletes. For these uniforms, she plays on the iconographic codes inherent in Japanese culture, notably the national flag, Hinomaru. An interesting success.
Through a few answers, the artist hints at his motivations.
You’ve already ventured to create for Kabuki, that ancestral Japanese art form somewhere between theater and dance. Is this your first creation for the Olympic Games or, more generally, for a sporting competition?
This is my first experience with the Olympic Games. However, I have already designed uniforms for professional baseball teams.
Why did this challenge interest you? Did you approach the creative process differently?
I wanted to remind people of the Japanese national flag. In a way, Hinomaru was my first goal.
Did you meet the athletes to get inspiration?
Yes, indeed, I met them several times. I saw their performances and was able to analyze their movements before considering the development process. Then, of course, I met them again for the presentation press conference.
Does knowing that your work is admired and seen by a very large number of people (via retransmissions, etc.) have a significant impact on you?
Certainly, every creative being enjoys being seen and admired. However, my aim was more than that. Above all, I wanted to allow the athletes to express themselves and show the full extent of their talents.
Can you briefly comment on the models, in particular the iconography, the allusion to the Sun, to Japan, the land of the Rising Sun?
Hinamoru is made up of two colors, white and red, but I’ve added a few others. These represent the continents of the world or the original diversity of peoples.
Hinamoru symbolizes the sun, a simple disk. Here, I’ve transformed it to make it more dynamic and alive.
The outfits had to be made by a local, Japanese manufacturer? What do you think of the Us Ralph Lauren suits, and the controversy surrounding their manufacture in China?
Personally, I preferred to work with Japanese industries. The Games involve a national commitment, country by country. Working for the Japanese delegation, it would have been inconsistent to do otherwise. Personally, I don’t want to criticize these people. There are many contradictions surrounding the Olympic Games, and I don’t think it’s necessary to go overboard.
Thank you, .
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Cette publication est également disponible en : Français (French)
