Hello. This is KLD, a second-hand brand clothing store.
The event was held for two days on March 2nd and 3rd, 2024 at the KLD Event Space in Itoshima City.
Scene from the event
At noon, the large shutters at the front were opened to reveal a larger interior, and at the front a torso wearing a sheer CFCL dress was placed, its feet surrounded by mimosa flowers that had been purchased that morning.
On the right side, there are large racks and a floating display suspended by wires, while on the left side, clothes are hung in a space covered with wires and delicate threads (apparently sewing threads) and can be freely viewed. 
Part of the display on the right
Part of the display on the left
There was a fitting room at the back, and many people were trying on clothes as they pleased.
Customers came continuously throughout the two days, and the event ended in a lively atmosphere.
thank you very much.
Interview
This time, we interviewed the two people who planned the event, shogo_icikawa and Asai Tsunami.
Please take a look.
shogo_icikawa
Tsunami Asai
-How did you come to hold this event?
shogo_icikawa: This time, I first received a call from Mr. Ito (representative of KLD) saying, "We have this property," before we even signed a contract for the event space.
He showed me photos of the interior of the store and we thought it looked really cool, so we decided to do something there.
-This time, the selection of clothes to be sold was left up to you two, but was there a theme for the selection?
shogo_icikawa: "Partial abstraction." When making this selection, I wanted to trace the sensation I get when I draw.
Generally speaking, "abstract" gives the impression of something being blurred overall, so I call it "abstraction." When I draw, I always create with the feeling of, for example, "abstracting the part of my right hand from the elbow down."
This time, I tried to bring those sensations into view with my eyes and to incorporate them into the space.
Source: shogo_icikawa Instagram
-When you create a painting, do you always approach it with a "partial abstraction" approach? What does that feel like?
shogo_icikawa: Yes. Partial abstraction is, for example, changing something that is "2" to "1.5" or something that is "2" to "2.5". That's the feeling I get.
- (Asai) What was your stance regarding Tunami's selection this time?
Asai Tsunami: This time, the key to making the decision was looking at the space. First, I selected clothes from a list that I thought I would like to see in person, without being too concerned about brands, and then I decided on the details as I placed them in the space.
An image of a space filled with mannequins came to mind, and we actually created that space...
shogo_icikawa: That's also "abstraction". There were only a few physical torsos, but the strings stretched across the space (the display on the left) acted as mannequins or torsos. If you look at it from a different angle, I think it's connected to the concept of "abstraction".
A display of strings stretched across it
You mentioned it earlier; what was the idea behind the string-strung display on the left-hand side as you enter the store?
shogo_icikawa: Originally, I had wires strung around it to act as a rack for hanging clothes. Then I had the idea that it would be nice to have lines like "drawings in the sky," and so I ended up using threads to create a display.
Asai Tsunami: I happened to have some sewing thread on hand, so I tried adding it to the wire and found that it was strong enough to be used for display purposes.
I don't know... I think I was able to create a space where threads go in various places and intersect, as if to say, "I want you to go wherever you want."
- I would like to ask you about your activities as an artist. What kind of activities do you usually do?
shogo_icikawa: The basis of my work is live performance. Recently, I only have one way of producing music, which is to create something live and then trim it at home.
In the past, I thought of it as "touching up," but now I think of it as "trimming." This ties into the theme of this time, "abstraction," but I think of leaving something I've drawn live as "abstraction," and trimming only the parts I want to keep is the idea of "abstraction."
That's where the yen was born.
Source: shogo_icikawa Instagram
-Indeed, when I look at your works on Instagram, I get the impression that many of them are circular. Do you also create those works by trimming them after drawing them live?
shogo_icikawa: That's right. I drew the circle quickly during the live performance and then created it from there.
I call it "Taenso", but there is a Zen painting called "Ichienso" that is drawn in one stroke. I've taken that and increased its involvement a little more, drawing the circle several times, and am creating it as a presentation of an aesthetic view of "this is how I'm going to go this time".
-Sometimes your Instagram posts have memorable titles, how do you come up with them?
shogo_icikawa: That's exactly what we do - we present what comes as it is, without muddying it or being afraid.
-Some have words written on them and some don't. What is the difference between them?
shogo_icikawa: Basically, no credits, no concept is something that I value, but I've also always loved wordplay, which is why I write.
However, it's not like I'm speaking words directly to the painting; rather, the words I use depend on how I feel at the time and can be completely different from the painting.
-Recently, there was a saying that goes, "A cold even number is close to an odd number." For example, where did this saying come from?
shogo_icikawa: That's part of synesthesia, but I feel that there are people who can compromise and people who can't. For example, I'm an odd-numbered person, so I'm proud of the way I live my life (without being able to compromise), but I think that by interacting with people who can compromise, the parts come together.
Among these, the phrase "cold even number" came up as I was working with Ito (representative of KLD) on this project, and in fact it refers to Ito.
The idea is that because it's an "even number," it can become a package that can be properly communicated to the outside world, but even within that, there are some parts where the chaos index is a little high. I feel like there are parts where an affinity is born with an indivisible zone.
-What kind of things do you get inspiration from when creating?
shogo_icikawa: Recently, it's my body. I go for a walk about 20km every day.
-20 kilos...!?
shogo_icikawa: Yes. I said earlier that we create our performances live, but a live performance is like martial arts, when you reach your limit, you can only perform movements that you have experience with.
For example, saying "I'm going to draw a line here now" and drawing a line is "design," so that's the job of a designer. I want to present more things that "even I didn't think would turn out like this," so I create with the idea that by simply moving my body and learning new movements, I can "get new lines."
-So it's like you have various movements installed in your body before you start drawing. Does the idea of "what to draw" just "come down to you"?
shogo_icikawa: Whenever I'm asked what to draw, I don't get involved at all. It's the thing I'm most afraid of.
-Is that so? Is it a creative process that is born from physicality?
shogo_icikawa: I think it's natural that relationships that occurred before, or things that have affected you emotionally, are imprinted on you, so the hardest part is trying to stop focusing on those things and "letting them go." Even so, I'm still not 100% free.
-Thank you. I'd like to ask you about your work. This time there were some really cute knitted hats and objects, but do you usually make work using knitting?
Asai Tsunami: I create a lot of different things, but when it comes to yarn, for example, I love the texture of mohair, and when I knit it into a piece of art, it looks like it is glowing like neon, which is interesting, so I use it to make objects.
Knitted works by Tsunami
-Have you ever sold the things you've created?
Asai Tsunami: Up until now, I've been asked to make and provide things like face masks, and I've mainly made products for requests from people I know or have connections with.
A mask created on request
-Is there anything you would like to make in the future?
Asai Tsunami: I like clothes, but right now I'm really interested in masks that cover the face.
When I made face masks previously, they were made for graffiti (art) artists to use in their activities, and at that time the idea of Noh came up.
In Noh, you can't see any facial expressions at all, but I was attracted to the idea of expressing things through that and wanted to try it myself. I also think it would be interesting if I could do something like "wearing a face" in my own productions.
I would like to try using any material, such as wool or cloth.
-Knitwear was prominent on display this time, but have you always done knitting?
Asai Tsunami: I started knitting when my grandmother taught me when I was little, and I continued knitting in high school because I went to a fashion school.
I feel like I also learned the basics there, like how to use a sewing machine.
-Have you also made clothes?
Asai Tsunami: When I was working at my previous job, I mainly did things like remaking old clothes...
shogo_icikawa: I think her work goes beyond remakes. She dismantles wedding dresses and makes furisode kimonos.
I think the production itself is quite classical in style. Looking at his past works, I get the impression that he is someone who focuses on one point and lives a one-sided life.
-Thank you. I'm looking forward to your future works. Is there anything you'd like to do at that venue again?
shogo_icikawa: Yes, this time we didn't know what kind of people would come, so we had a phase where we thought "it's okay not to see (or anticipate) anything." It was a pure concept.
So, now that I was able to get a feel for what type of customers would come, I thought that next time I should try something like a "fantasy concept."
- Delusion.
shogo_icikawa: Yes. For example, it's a fantasy of "What would change if a soldier in the 1940s was wearing Air Max?" That's what I used to do to myself when I was buying as a salesperson, or rather, it's a package.
When you use those kinds of restrictions, it doesn't feel like it's your own business. I think that's important in buying.
The lesson learned this time is that we need to tweak things like the percentages, and we'll incorporate that as a concept for the next time.
-Thank you very much. I think this was a really good event. I look forward to the next one.
shogo_icikawa: Thank you very much.
Asai Tsunami: Thank you very much.
KLD USED CLOTHING plans to continue planning various events at event spaces in Itoshima City.
We will be constantly updating this page with new information, so be sure to check it out.
