ISETAN MEN'S net has launched a new series called "ART UP by International Creators." This series focuses on "fashion" and "art," two fields that have long been closely related, and will curate and introduce a variety of artists.

The third artist to be featured is NOVOL, a painter/designer who has also worked on artwork for artists such as DJ MURO and GADORO. In addition to his highly expressive portraits, he has collaborated with various companies and apparel brands, and his work spans a wide range of fields, from apparel and food labels to calendars, encompassing design, illustrations, logos, and lettering for various products.

NOVOL also frequently performs live painting, collaborating with many musicians throughout Japan, including GRASSROOTS in Yokohama, where he performs at events almost every month. Last year, he also garnered significant attention with the publication of his first art book, "ten." We spoke with NOVOL in detail at his home and studio.

Event Information

NOVOL Live Painting

□September 12th (Wednesday) 11:00-19:30

□Main building, 6th floor = Event hall / Stage area B-6 pillars, B-7 pillars

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A painter/designer based in Tokyo, born in 1979. In 2002, inspired by jazz, she decided to pursue painting. She has worked on numerous music-related design projects, including CD/LP jackets, flyers, and posters for various artists and compilations across genres. She also provides illustrations for apparel, companies, and magazines, and more recently, has been involved in a wide range of collaborations, such as creating opening sequences for TV programs.

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From hardcore to jazz, from music to painting

"When I was little, I was just an ordinary boy who liked sports and music. I won an award in some kind of art competition when I was in elementary school, but I don't really remember it (laughs)," NOVOL says, reflecting on his past. Later, in high school, he started playing bass in a hardcore band. What sparked his interest in art was a life-changing encounter with jazz.

"People usually think of jazz and hardcore as very different genres of music. But the first jazz I ever listened to was Ornette Coleman's 'Free Jazz,' which a bandmate gave me. It's an experimental piece called a double quartet, where different bands play on the left and right. When I listened to it, I felt the same kind of exhilaration as I do with hardcore. Since then, I've been listening to a lot of experimental music like that, and at the same time, I've gradually become interested in psychedelic art."

His artistic career began with copying jazz album covers, and as he uploaded his work to social media, he gradually began to connect with artists from all over Japan. Fueled by these connections, he embarked on a solo exhibition tour in 2008, visiting five locations in four cities across the country. This tour, which marked a major turning point in his career, also led to his encounter with MURO, now one of Japan's leading DJs.

"I had framed the artwork I had been diligently creating and spent about two weeks in each location, so financially it was very tough. But that's where I met MURO, and he immediately offered me work. After designing the cover for MICROPHONE PAGER's 'Oudou Rakudo' (a hip-hop unit that MURO is also a part of), I started making more connections, and I think my surroundings changed as a result."

His work and its distinctive features include a brushstroke that creates a sense of depth and three-dimensionality, almost like an oil painting, and a unique use of color. However, he is basically self-taught in painting. He says he developed his own style by simply continuing to paint.

"For example, when drawing a person's face, the basic procedure is to draw the outline with a circle, then divide it with a cross to determine the position of the eyes, and so on. But I only learned that later (laughs). I start by coloring it in from the beginning and then refine the outline at the end, which is similar to how graffiti artists draw. I think I was naturally influenced because I liked to go and see their work often." "As I continued to draw, I started to want to express sounds and cigarette smoke well, rather than just drawing what I actually saw, so I tried various techniques and art materials. Some of the things I thought were techniques I had discovered turned out to be commonplace techniques for painters (laughs)."



NOVOL says that his main motivation for painting is "communication." Having had various job opportunities through encounters with people, he prefers live painting to painting alone at home. He says that being able to feel the reactions in real time makes it much more rewarding. In recent years, he has performed as BLACK DIAMONDS with jazz trumpeter Takuya Kuroda and jazz pianist Takeshi Obayashi, both of whom are active in New York, and their performances have been well-received in various locations.

" It all started when I met Takuya (Kuroda) through a mutual acquaintance, and we had a jam session at GRASSROOTS in Yokohama, where they hold an event every month. I think it was refreshing for him to be away from his usual jazz scene, and we both felt a great connection, so we went on a tour together afterward. I met Takeshi (Obayashi) when I went to Takuya's house in New York, and they were having a jam session at the time. It was really good, so I asked if we could have a jam session together, and that's how it happened."

Furthermore, unlike typical live painting, NOVOL not only paints in time with the music, but also plays music himself through a microphone set up behind the canvas. This is a performance only someone with band experience could deliver.

NOVOL has built a unique career with a rare background. They will undoubtedly continue to forge their own path, leveraging their connections with people.

NEXT> Towards the live painting at 'SOUL CAMP 2018 at ISETAN'