Over the course of the last few years, CLOT and Disney have had a fruitful relationship with several large scale projects spanning various Disney franchises. In their latest team-up, CLOT and Disney unite on the Travelling Mickey project which brings into the fold ten notable artists from around the world. Each given a blank canvas in the form of a Mickey Mouse figure, each artist was given the ability to appropriate the figure based on their own personal vision and aesthetic.
Over the course of the last few years, CLOT and Disney have had a fruitful relationship with several large scale projects spanning various Disney franchises. In their latest team-up, CLOT and Disney unite on the Travelling Mickey project which brings into the fold ten notable artists from around the world. Each given a blank canvas in the form of a Mickey Mouse figure, each artist was given the ability to appropriate the figure based on their own personal vision and aesthetic.
Over the course of the last few years, CLOT and Disney have had a fruitful relationship with several large scale projects spanning various Disney franchises. In their latest team-up, CLOT and Disney unite on the Travelling Mickey project which brings into the fold ten notable artists from around the world. Each given a blank canvas in the form of a Mickey Mouse figure, each artist was given the ability to appropriate the figure based on their own personal vision and aesthetic. Among the personalities involved include André, Makoto Azuma, Carri Munden of Cassette Playa, CLOT, Dr. Romanelli, Eric So, Jakuan, Motonori Masui, Madsaki, Mister Cartoon.
The project will launch on July 15, 2011 at CLOT & DISNEY’s Man Is In The Forest pop-up store in which all 10 figures will be put on display with the opportunity to be auctioned off with a three month bidding window. From there, further tour locations will include Hong Kong and Taipei. 50% of the sales of each 1 of 1 figure will be donated to the China Youth Development Foundation for social welfare and education.
@DISNEY
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André
André was born in Uppsala, Sweden in 1971. He shares his time between Paris and NY. André & Graffiti: André started to paint on the walls of Paris in 1985 and soon after quickly became the most active graffiti-artist in Paris. At the end of the 1980’s he was the first artist to introduce a character ‘Mr. A’, (his signature stick figure with a top hat) instead of the usual ‘tag name’. Mr. A soon became a cult Parisian symbol in the creative world. As a result, the character soon travelled from the city walls to high fashion magazines and into several fashion collaborations. Andre has painted Mr.A over 100,000 times around the world and consequentially both Mr A and André have become international iconic figures.
What is your perspective on this project?
I think the traveling Mickey concept is great and I think the charitable aspect is inspiring and perfect for the Mickey Mouse character. It’s about joy.
Please tell us your concept and inspiration.
American Pop. This is a wink using one of the most Pop images in the world (Mickey Mouse) to Pop art as a whole. There is a Warhol aspect of taking an inanimate object and visually glorifying it.
Is there a title/name for your piece?
Golden Mickey.
What was the difficulty while making the piece?
Finding the proper way to apply real gold that would look beautified and extravagant without looking pristine or manufactured.
@DISNEY
4 of 12
MAKOTO AZUMA
Makoto Azuma has been in the flower business since 2002, and is an owner of the haute-couture floral shop -“JARDINS des FLEURS” in Minami Aoyama, Tokyo. He has been actively participating in art exhibitions all over the world as a flower artist.
From 2005, he has been holding solo exhibitions in cities like New York, Paris and Germany. In 2009, he found an experimental group, “Azuma Makoto Botanical Research Institute” and ever since then, he has been expanding art activities pursuing plants potentials.
His every single work focuses solely on elevation value of flowers and plants by finding unique and mysterious forms and elements that they only have, and then converting as well as presenting them at an aesthetic level.
What is your perspective on this project?
Hope this project can be more further developed at Mickey’s hometown – America.
Please tell us your concept and inspiration.
Bringing & introducing the concept of plants to everybody through Mickey mouse.
Is there a title/name for your piece?
Mickey Moss.
What do you think is value about this project?
Most value is I can express my arts through mickey mouse. Because it couldn’t be done without this mickey mouse.
@DISNEY
5 of 12
Cassette Playa – Carri Munden
Cassette Playa by Carri Munden is a toxicolour uniform for hard boys and girls battling real and virtual worlds….Cassette Playa has collaborated with brands including Nike Sportswear, Swatch, Disney (Toy Story 3) Stussy Womens, Mattel and Medicom and artists including M.I.A, Nicki Minaj, Chromeo and Telepathe.
Why are you willing to participate in this project?
Because I am a fan of fantasy, a fan of Disney, a fan of Edison and believe in change.
Please tell us your concept and inspiration.
I was inspired by Tiki art and native american Totems, I wanted to create a piece that looks.
Is there any message that you would like to deliver through your piece?
To create the future but respect ancient knowledge.
How do you perceive Mickey Mouse? What do you see in it?
Icon that transcends cultures. (Mickey Mouse) to Pop art as a whole. There is a Warhol aspect of taking an inanimate object and visually glorifying it.
@DISNEY
6 of 12
CLOT – Edison Chen
Established proudly in 2003 by founders Edison Chen and Kevin Poon, CLOT Incorporated is a urban lifestyle business designed to cater to the young generation of Asia and the world. CLOT is a start up company designed to encourage the Asian youth to develop their own identity with sense and style. CLOT has since it’s opening branched into the worlds of Music,Design, Retail, Fashion and Consulting bringing funk and flavor to the EAST.
What is your perspective on this project?
Interesting to have Mickey as a platform for an art project that is actually endorsed by Disney, I think this is a good energy and culture builder for the Asian region to see more creative people coming together on one main theme and beloved character.
Please tell us your concept and inspiration.
Our Mickey is a alien Mickey, he is the three eyed Mickey, it is our special clot mickey and we felt it was best to use this as a representation of our travelling mickey, he has gone to mars and back and look he is the same….. Well just a lil different!!!!!
What do you think is value about this project?
To be able to get international talent together to do something meaningful, I want the youth to see charity as not something of pressure, but something fun and also happy. Giving to people who need is a blessing for them and also for yourself.
How do you perceive Mickey Mouse? What do you see in it?
Classic and timeless, one of my favorite animated characters from when I was young til now.
@DISNEY
7 of 12
DR. ROMANELLI
It’s easy to become infected by Darren Romanelli’s enthusiasm for his obsession-turned-profession; Dr Romanelli brand . Twisting the familiar into in the fresh, DRx has gained renown as a savvy reviver of cultural classics. Whether its Nike, Jaeger Le Coultre, Fraggle Rock Black Sabbath, Looney Tunes, Converse, or Hello Kitty – he reinvents these legendary properties , simultaneously building a loyal following on a global scale.
What is your perspective on this project?
Simply stated “Reconstructed Mickey” representing a “classic vintage work of art.”
Please tell us your concept and inspiration.
There are so many layers to Mickey and The Magic Kingdom . I wanted to create the visual that Mickey was taking off a layer physically before our eyes. My initial concept was to reverse the generational perspective on wastefulness, in this case reflected by the vintage seeing Mickey literally unzipping his suit ( skin ) . The idea being anything has usefulness and artistic value. From there it progressed into being more about the layer itself more then anything.
How do you merge Mickey with art/your style?
It was a very organic process. I ended up painting Mickey a similar color to the reworked textiles giving off the aesthetic from a distance that Mickey looked almost normal, monotone visually, that maybe he was just painted but as you get closer you can see he is coming out of his secondary skin that has been reworked and paneled via DRxRomanelli.
What is your goal and vision for this project?
Make something unique. Hopefully inspire people that connect with my creation.
@DISNEY
8 of 12
ERIC SO
Eric is a multi–media artist and Creative Director of Papamamason. In the past years, Eric has worked with various medium and art form and has invited to work in numerous projects with different brand names and organizations. After years of planning, in 2010, Eric and fashion icon lyricist Wyman Wong makes their debut collaboration in the fashion art scene. Their collective efforts are presented by “YSOFUN” and be the first project launched at Papamamason online store. And a new character “Horny Girl” with Japanese Photographer Yonehara Yasumasa will be launched this summer.
Please tell us your concept and inspiration.
Both Mickey Mouse and my Reborn Bear aim to bring us Loves, Hopes, Happiness, positive messages, so I put Reborn Bear and Mickey Mouse together, and I do think that they can be best friend.
Any special approach or material you had applied to the Mickey sculpture?
I just hope the audiences focus on how I paint Mickey Mouse and Reborn Bear on a single piece skillfully.
What do you think is value about this project?
It’s simple, Charity!
Either from work or your childhood, can you recall any unforgettable memory/experience with Mickey Mouse?
My creative and design was inspired by him, making dreams come true every day.
What is your goal and vision for this project?
Surely bringing loves and joy and helping people through this project.
@DISNEY
9 of 12
Jakuan Melendez
Jakuan started out as a writer for Warp Magazine (Japan) and the IndiePlanet website when he has the pivotal position of bringing toy creators, designers and art toy itself to America’s attention. It can be said that Jakuan’s crucial impact was that by staging, selling and educating the public about art toys, he helped sever the line that anchored the new toy creations in the realm of “comic book store or kid’s toys” and set it free to develop and grow into the phenomenon that it is today.
Why are you willing to participate in this project?
First of all, it involves CLOT, which is my favorite clothing design co. And Disney, which I, and everyone else, grew up with. So it was an honor to be asked.
Please tell us your concept and inspiration.
My concept is to blend Mickey with another property. Being that Disney has newly acquired Marvel, and the super hero movie genre is very popular and marketable. I decided to blend the iconic Mickey Mouse with the Invincible Iron Man. Thus making Mickey Mouse a Super hero!
Any special approach or material you had applied to the Mickey sculpture?
No, I didn’t have enough time to really do what I wanted, like detach the ears to make them swivel down like iron mans helmet. Instead I just had to hand paint it with acrylic and enamels.
How do you perceive Mickey Mouse? What do you see in it?
Mickey mouse is Iconic. You cannot think of one with out the other. Even the Mickey logo (the shadow shape of Mickey’s head) is so recognizable. When you think of Mickey Mouse or Disney you think of your childhood and cartoons, family, fun. These things are what people see in Disney!
@DISNEY
10 of 12
JAM HOME MADE – Motonori Masui
Born in Tokyo, graduated in Kuwasawa Design School. Established Jam Home Made in 1999. Making bridal jewellery & various accessories which are not dictated by the natural boundaries of product design.
Please tell us your concept and inspiration.
Inspiration from “red pin donation in japan”. When taking more & more pin out, the hidden mickey will appear. Everybody participated in order to make this happened.
Any special approach or material you had applied to the Mickey sculpture?
I used 925 silver jam home made plate, re-attachable seal safety pin, & all hand made.
What is your goal and vision for this project?
Not only yourself, but also giving love to the people around you!!
Either from work or your childhood, can you recall any unforgettable memory/experience with Mickey Mouse?
The Mickey t-shirt that [Emilio Estevez] was wearing in the movie “The Outsiders”.
@DISNEY
11 of 12
MADSAKI
Born in 1974 in Osaka. Immigrated to New York with his parents during his youth. During ‘80s to ‘90s when New York was bursting with vivid energy he was deeply influenced by the art/music cultures to have set his future goal of becoming an artist. He was enrolled into Parsons School of Design in 1992 as a Fine Art major, has set his lifetime goal of being an artist ever since.
In 2004, he ended his 25-year journey in New York and headed back to his hometown Japan. Has since moved his base to Tokyo, started everything from scratch as a debut artist. He then later co-founded the label “INTERMISSION” with Takahashi Jun, the head designer of UNDERCOVER, since then made his presence loud and clear to the Japanese audience. He changed his style, fusing his space-conscious art sense as a fixed bike riding messenger into fine arts as a new trend. He brought the fixed bike culture into Tokyo, earned himself the “Fixed Bike Master” renown among the street fashion circle.
Why are you willing to participate in this project?
If I could do something, I want to give something.
Any special approach or material you had applied to the Mickey sculpture?
Soul.
How do you perceive Mickey Mouse? What do you see in it?
King of pop and king of hope.
Either from work or your childhood, can you recall any unforgettable memory/experience with Mickey Mouse?
Going to Disney world was like going into a dream world.siders”.
@DISNEY
12 of 12
MISTER CARTOON
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mister Cartoon was immersed in art from an early age. He began his career as a graffiti artist before branching into murals, album covers, logos, and, most famously, tattoos. His richly detailed, hand-rendered designs pull much of their inspiration from the Los Angeles of Cartoon’s youth. At one time, the black and grey, fine line style was synonymous with LA street life. Cartoon’s work has helped bridge the gap between those hardscrabble beginnings and the style’s current popularity. Stars such as Eminem, Travis Barker, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Beyoncé, along with athletes like CC Sabathia, Amarie Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer wear Cartoon’s art on their skin.
Why are you willing to participate in this project?
Disney impacted my life as a kid and this project brings back great memories, and I look like a hero in front of my kids tattooing Mickey..
Please tell us your concept and inspiration.
My concept and inspiration is the merging of custom painted candy low riders, and fine line tattoos into Mickey’s world.
Is there a title/name for your piece?
Mickey Loco does Compton.
How do you merge Mickey with art/your style?
I merged Mickey into my custom candy painted world of tattoos, graffiti, air brush, and low riding.