RinpaEshidan :: Japan-Fashion.com

Formed during their art college days, this team of artists is now active in a variety of different media, ranging from television and commercials to live club performances.
A virtue of the young, their sensibilities were open to influences from many pioneering forces including time-lapse which, although no longer a cutting edge filming technique, overflows with originality through their refreshing manipulation of it. Even during those early days their work gained global recognition evident from record numbers of views on then infant video-sharing site, YouTube. Later, they were also named Pick Up Artist on YouTube Japan.

Art activities beginning in a quiet corner of a Japanese university campus are known the world around.

Daiikanyama, Tokyo. On the flyer lies an impressive list of famous DJs. The DJ booth is located on the stage, behind which a screen plays fantastical images courtesy of the VJ. On either side of the stage stand two large white panels and at the front is a foreigner operating a potter's wheel. A surreal scene to behold. Despite the midnight start the floor is filled with people. The live art is performed in rhythm to the DJ's beats. Fast. I couldn't honestly believe they could produce such high quality work at this speed, it's almost as if I'm watching one of their time-lapse videos on YouTube. There are probably more skilful painters and faster artists but the real show is only just beginning. They continue to paint over the finished graphics - I'm witness to a painting in constant change as if inspired by life.

Rinpa

The word rinpa implies loop in Japanese. Bringing forth the loop of power are what these artists truly perform. Painting and erasing; erasing and painting: all in loop. Furthermore, a loop connects people. These are the origins of the group's name.

These peaceful sentiments are reflected in the work of the group. For instance, you may walk by an artistic piece of incomplete graffiti in a back alley of Shibuya and diregard it as just another piece of juvenile vandalism, but I must disagree.

They paint on a set - not random city walls. Already art has begun. Everything is under precise direction in order to express their own artistic feelings and also to entertain. It sometimes takes months of production. "We put together the set outside, so it can be kinda tough when a typhoon comes", they say with a laugh. Enjoying every process, entertaining people and hurting no one. Their activities are artistic and creative.

The Rinpa Eshidan team comprises of founder and leader Noiz-Davi, Daisuke Yamamoto, D.H.Rosen, Akari Sasai and XOLA. Despite a number of offers to perform as a collective, each member also pursues their own creative ventures. Achieving a harmonious balance is the main source of their worries right now.

I would love to go and watch another live-art performance but due to a number of other individual commitments there won't be another show for a while. There's a flood of offers from all over the world so coordinating their schedules is proving difficult.

"Do you perform as individuals under the Rinpa Eshidan name?"
"We have performed with missing team members but Rinpa Eshidan art can only truly come to life when the five of us are in the loop." replies XOLA.

So far, Rinpa have been bombarded by offers and have produced actual results in large-scale projects. However, I sense a wariness concerning the amount of work coming their way.

"Right now we have an offer to paint a mural for a hotel. We definitely want to do this..." says Rosen in fluent Japanese.
Akari Sasai adds that "Rinpa Eshidan's work has to maintain the Rinpa style."

Like the performance at the club and the numerous videos it's paint and erase, erase and paint. Graphics give way to new graphics. This is Rinpa Eshidan's art.
The former Rinpa Eshidan bears way to a new Rinpa Eshidan, in eternal evolution.

Loop.
The clock spins round and round.
Full circle.
The world is connected and we patiently await the next Rinpa.

Activities

2006.11.19 Rinpa Vol.11-Bridge (Yokohama)
2006.12.24 White&Illuminated Christmas in Daikoku PA (Daikoku parking area)
2007.1.12 Test Tone-Super Deluxe (Roppongi)
2007.1.14 Rinpa Vol.12-Bridge (Yokohama)
2007.1.30 Quick flick world-Super Deluxe (Roppongi)
2007.1.10~12 Reggae Snow Splash-Canions Alpine Resort (Minakami)
2007.3.3~4 Buyou-Sai-ZAIM (Yokohama)
2007.3.25 Rinpa Vol.13-Bridge (Yokohama)
2007.4.15 Tacos-Super Deluxe (Roppongi)
2007.4.28 nuan+PARCO meets RinpaEshidan-front of the PARCO (Shibuya)
2007.5.11 Tech Booty Funk-La Fabric (Shibuya)
2007.5.27 Rinpa Vol.14-Logos (Yokohama)
2007.6.12 Test Tone-Super Deluxe (Roppongi)
2007.7.14 Red Box-Super Deluxe (Roppongi)
2007.10.26 Out of Reach (Roppongi)
2007.10.27 "Vacation Forever SuperDeluxe," Tegwon 2nd Album Release Party, SuperDeluxe, (Roppongi)
2008.1.19 Chill Planet-Super Deluxe (Roppongi)
2008.4.18 SPIN-eggman (Shibuya)
2008.4.19 [en]Exhibition opening live (Shinjyuku)
2008.5.31 Ready Set Go!!(Red Box Project), Unit (Daikanyama)

2006.10 Room
2007.1 Terra Trance
2007.4 Garden
2007.8 Cube
2007.10 Beijing*

2006.12 KDDI mobile America (CM 30Sec.)
2007.4 salaryman NEO (opening image 60Sec.)
2007.4 TSUTAYA campaign (CM 10Sec.)
2007.5 SHIORI suburban featuring shing02(PV)
2007.12 Pioneer Plasma TV [KURO]

2007.5 Boice Planning 4th Exhibition-BoicePlanning (Kanagawa)
2007.5 Fed Square Short Film Festival (Australia)
2007-.9 "From/Emptiness, "and/or gallery (Dallas, Texas)
2007.11 "Video art exhibition"-The Artcomplex Center of Tokyo (Shinjyuku)
2007.11 RinpaEshidan exhibition-Maru Gallery(Tamachi)
2008.3 "RinpaEshidan[en]" Exibition Art Complex of Tokyo (Shinjyuku)

2007.9 Dangdai International Arts Festival(DIAF)-798art district (Beijing, China)
2007.12 Kanazawa Geijyutsu Mura "Wall 'wow' Project" (Kanazawa)

2007.7 CK IN2U Calvin Klein runner up prize

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