About 4 years ago at the Telus Ski and Snowboard Festival in Whistler, I met an awesome artist that went by the name of TiFdyL. I had a terrible time pronouncing or remembering that name but thankfully, his real name is rad and fun to say...Taka Sudo, originally from Tokyo and now living in Whistler, BC, spends his days knee deep in powder and elbow deep in paint.

I adore his work and can get lost in a piece for hours. Each one has it's own rhythm..they're like a choose your own adventure story.  Taka himself is one of the kindest dudes I've met and I am always stoked to see him. If you're lucky enough to happen across Taka or his work, consider yourself fortunate and make time for both.

wlfmrs: Alright buddy... let's fast forward with a few things ... can you nail down your hometown, current location and how you got there?

Taka: I'm originally from suburb of Tokyo. Now living in Whistler Canada. I've lived here since 2001. I came here first time for skiing and thought I would stay here just for one ski season, but I like people's creativity, energy and power in BC here as well as great ski hill. A few years after, I got permanent residency in Canada.

wlfmrs: I heard you had a law degree from Tokyo.. have you ever used it?

Taka: I learned Law in University. There, I couldn't find justice or equity in Law, but I could find it in Art, music or all of cool pop-culture. So I think Law degree helped me to make art. Hahaha...

wlfmrs: Where did the name 'TiFdyL' come from?

Taka: I tried to find the name something sounds neither English nor Japanese. TiFdyL actually mean nothing. I played with initial letters of lyrics from Radiohead song. But no meaning in TiFdyL. Just TiFdyL sounds funny?

wlfmrs: It sounds great..very clever. Why did you come up with an alternate name? I noticed you using it a lot when we first met but not as much anymore.

Taka: I used an alternate name because I wanted to show just my art. I thought like my personality should be shadow of art. But Taka Sudo was much easier to pronounce for everybody. So I'm not using TiFdyL so much... Haha...

wlfmrs: Oh man, so true.. I kept mispronouncing it. Your real name is super fun to say so I don't know that I'd ever get used to saying TiFdyL.     Let's talk about your work.. what's the inspiration behind these wild faces you do?

Taka: Those artworks made were inspired by all of people's energy or power, even it's positive, negative, optimistic, pessimistic. I tried to put as much information, emotions etc in one art. And tried to make neutral by chaos.

wlfmrs: Is it important to you that people 'understand' or are able to 'interpret' a message in your work?

Taka: I want people to see my art as they like. Actually no message in my art. I want to make art which look different by people or by day.

wlfmrs: So with each piece being so individual, how do you start on a piece? And how often do you art; daily, weekly?

Taka: Making art everyday except the day of amazing powder on the mountain. I make background first with some texture, then make outlines of face (animals, babies, etc.) by collage of newspapers, magazine, pieces and photos I took etc. Then apply some color and drawing with acrylics, markers, pen, inks and spray paints etc.

wlfmrs: Do you know what you're making before you start or does it build itself?

Taka: Yes, I know what I'm making. But not 100%.

 

wlfmrs: How do you feel about your art career at this point? Is it a career? Do you have an alternate job that funds your life?

Taka: I haven't even thought about career... I'm just inspired everyday by people and making art ... I'd like to bring art, artist or any kind of creativity in North America to Tokyo, or from Tokyo to Canada in the future. Exchanging creativity is great thing I think.

wlfmrs: Definitely! Speaking of going global, you had a few air-miles racked up recently...care to share your adventures?

Taka: Traveling cost me so much. But believe me, it's worth it. Every time I meet cool people I feel so charged. I had a show in Tokyo with Reijiro Mochizuki in October. He is an amazing artist. I met him in Tokyo because we have had a show at the same gallery in Portland, different show though. The gallery owner introduced me to Reijiro in Tokyo. Tokyo is a very very difficult place to do art. But so many of cool artists in Tokyo.

wlfmrs: What makes it so difficult to do art in Tokyo?

Taka: It's difficult to sell artworks because people live in smaller spaces in Tokyo. But that's why we have to be creative to keep doing art in Tokyo. So Tokyo is very creative and so many cool artist.

wlfmrs: And how about your show at C.A.V.E Gallery in Venice,CA? How did all that go down?

Taka: That was amazing! I didn't do live painting, John Park did live painting for the opening. He is super cool artist. C.A.V.E. is great gallery. They understand our art and our art scene very very well and always try their best to understand each artists. They are very nice people!
And I really loved L.A. It's hard to explain, but so much power and love down there.

wlfmrs: Do you have any shows coming up, locally or abroad?

Taka: "7" at Ayden gallery. State of the Art in Whistler in April. Small solo show in Tokyo in May. Solo show at Hellion gallery Portland which is new gallery by former Compound curator in September. I'm going to Portland in next month to do a few live painting and mural organized be Hellion gallery. And snowboard and ski with my graphics will be released in next winter from Endeavor Snowboard and Faction Ski.

wlfmrs: Whoa.. you are going to be busy hey? Congrats, that's super awesome! Do you ever get to the point where you just want to take a month off and drink beers with your friends and not think about art for a bit?

Taka: I can go skiing everyday here or mountain biking in summer, and in Tokyo I go surfing often with my friends. So I'm still having my time. Can't complain! Sometimes I'm feeling so tired but I feel so re-charged everytime I meet cool people.

wlfmrs: That's a great way to look at at...good to have that balance.  What does your studio set up look like? Is it in your home, do you rent a separate space?

Taka: I'm working in my home. It's too expensive to hire studio here in Whistler and I'm spending too much traveling... But it's a nice set-up to work for me. Good view out the window. Not a big space, but easy to work on a few pieces same time without walking too much, and easy to go outside to do spray paint. I'm actually planning to move to Vancouver now though.

wlfmrs: What kind of music do you rock when arting?

Taka: Radiohead, 80kids, Squarepusher, Twin Shadow, Jaguar Love, LCD Sound System etc are recent play list for arting. And Humans is amazing!

wlfmrs: and favorite adult beverage to enjoy while getting rad?

Taka: Beer! Organic beer especially.

wlfmrs: How do you feel about collaborations? Have you done any that had a really positive or negative impact on your work?

Taka: I always love to do collab. Can't expect how it's going to be at the end. Very fun and exciting!

wlfmrs: Is it hard to let go of pieces that you do? In all the work you've made, do you have a favorite piece?

Taka: In collab process, I enjoy how the finished piece will go. I liked my new finished piece for "7". They are my favorite for now. Tried a little new style!

wlfmrs: Bill Cosby against Oprah in a beer drinking contest?

Taka: Oprah!

Wlfmrs: awesome.     Any shout outs before I go to the beer store?

Taka: Great to talk with you Tarah! Wishing a great 2011 for all of us and friends! Let's have a creative 2011 with lots of challenge and adventure! Thank you Tarah.

Thank you Taka!

Stalk Taka's website and keep an eye out for him and his work in Canada, US and Tokyo! If you see him, buy him a beer and make sure to tell him how rad he is!

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