The artist unit magma, which creates art pieces by collaging discarded materials, will be holding a pop-up store called "ISETAN MAGMA-kan" at the Men's Creators section on the 2nd floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building Shinjuku Store. The event will run from June 2nd (Wednesday) to June 22nd (Tuesday). We spoke with Jun Sugiyama and Kenichi Miyazawa, whose gentle personalities are just as captivating as their artwork, about the charm of their creative process and their enthusiasm for the pop-up store .

• 
  

  magma

  
  An artist unit formed by Jun Sugiyama and Kenichi Miyazawa.
  
  Combining discarded materials, resins, and electrical appliances to create a unique worldview, he works extensively not only on art but also on furniture, products, and spatial design direction and production. In 2017, he celebrated his 10th anniversary with a major exhibition at Laforet Museum Harajuku. Recent achievements include artwork for the film "WE ARE LITTLE ZOMBIES," collaborations with the LA-based art and creative group Brain Dead, artwork for offices such as Mercari and BOSCH, and providing artwork for numerous musicians including Yuzu, Sakanaction, and PUNPEE. His works, which fuse a nostalgic analog feel with crazy colors, have attracted attention both domestically and internationally.
  
  Website: http://magma-web.jp
  Instagram: @magma.jp

—From the very beginning, "magma" has been creating works using recycled materials. Could you tell us about your intentions behind this?


Even things that are misshapen and would normally be thrown away can be completely transformed through collage. We find that fascinating. It's like magic for the ugly, the misshapen.

We call them "scrap materials" for convenience, but we don't consider them scrap materials at all. They are valuable materials. And creating things based on scrap materials is more interesting than creating something from scratch. That's because the bar is raised considerably. When you try to create something with what you have, you inevitably come down to limitations.

—When and how did magma's style come about?

I've been making things the same way since I was a student. My teacher always emphasized not to spend money. No 100-yen store items. If we did use money, we had to make sure it wasn't obvious. I think it was a constraint to foster our creativity and ingenuity, but I found it incredibly interesting to transform the value of existing things. I enjoyed it so much that it became our style.

—Could you tell us what led to you two forming a comedy duo?

We failed the entrance exam twice before finally getting into Musabi (Musashino Art University). Those of us who had failed multiple times tended to stick together, so we naturally became friends. Then, when our professor saw the work we'd done for an assignment, he told us, "You guys would be better off starting your own business rather than getting a job." He was a strict professor who rarely praised us, so we took it to heart (laughs).

—What led to the product being unveiled at Isetan?

One day, a classmate said to me, "Why don't you do something big, like launching a show in a warehouse overseas?" It wasn't that I wasn't happy with my current life, but I thought, "That's a good point." I thought that a big stage like Isetan would be a chance for people who didn't know us before to get to know us.

—What was the reason for adopting the concept of "all the works on display and for sale being items that can be used in everyday life"?

Setting rules makes the creative process more interesting. Beyond overcoming issues like function and size lies (artist) freedom. It's fun because it requires using a different part of my brain than usual.

—What kind of works will be available at the pop-up store?


One of them is a dining table with a tabletop and legs made of Jenga blocks. The style of covering something with something else is one of Magma's icons. I wanted to create my own style, and this is what I came up with. Until now, I've only made small things like stools, so this is the first time I've made something this big.


The other piece is a speaker, my fifth creation. It utilizes wooden products such as shogi boards, shogi pieces, and wooden molds for Japanese sweets. Despite its appearance, it sounds great. I learned about acoustic theory as I continued to create these pieces.





The merchandise includes tote bags, T-shirts, and keychains, each infused with a playful touch. Examples include a logo using the character "イ" instead of "伊," a graphic with random letters that somehow spells out "SHINJUKU," and a graphic of a spiny lobster...

Since this piece will be displayed in Japan's top department store, we were extremely particular about the materials we used and the way it was made.

—Why did you title your solo exhibition "ISETAN MAGMA Hall"?

Isetan Shinjuku Store is divided into the Main Building and Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building . I took the "building" part and named it "ISETAN MAGMA Building." I also thought it was interesting that the artist's name was included in the exhibition title.

--Finally, do you have a message for Isetan's customers?

Now that we're spending more time at home, we'd be happy if our creations could make that space more comfortable. We'll repair them if they break, so we hope you'll use them a lot, not just look at them.


Available at Mitsukoshi Isetan Online Store
View all Magma products