FEATURE: RUSSELL MAURICE ‘CRAWL OUT FROM THE FALLOUT’ EXHIBITION

Russell Maurice opened his latest show at SO1 Gallery in Tokyo on March 18. Tokyo based English native Maurice walked us through the body of works and sat down with us to explain what is behind the ‘Crawl out from the fallout,’ living in Tokyo and difference between his approach to art and his clothing line.

Can you talk about your new show in some depth, the concept and ideology behind this body of works.

This show is talking about a post apocalyptic future, in places it discusses ecology too, a few times I’m painting on trash, old plastic bags and cheese wrappers, a little but thinking about plastic, like when was the last time you even thought about the wrapper you threw in the bin. What makes it trash, how long will it last now etc. But this show couldn’t have been better timed with the whole Corona jammy, completely highlighting how fragile our current system is. Its ridiculous how fast things have fallen apart. We all livened trust in this system which is completely backward and fucked. It needs a reboot. But anyway, my theme was a vision of a possible future, human detritus and digital advancement mix together after Nuclear (or other)  Catastrophe, kind of questioning our fate as a race. Its a little bit following on from my show at Pop 68 last year, but with disaster thrown in, there I was talking about future tech and consciousness, connectedness.

What is behind the title ‘Crawl out from the fallout’?

It came from a track by West coast band Thee Oh Sees, which is fully amazing, I wanted to make a post apocalypse show, and it all kinda made sense, especially with the “Atomic Worm’ sculpture we released for the show.

How does this body of work represent you and your work at the moment?

I change formats all the time but the last big show I did (at Calm & Punk with Horfee), I made a lot of these Plexiglass box things which are able to hold objects inside and at the same time can frame Animations cels and other bits of collage, Im happy with this solution as it kind of brings a lot of my aspects together, like I can put paintings on fabric next to one of my photographs. This is the first time I’ve shown my photography work.

“It came from a track by West coast band Thee Oh Sees, which is fully amazing, I wanted to make a post apocalypse show”

You now reside in Tokyo, can you talk about the city and how it has an influence on you as a person and as an artist?

Tokyo is a very chill city to live, people (who don’t live here) are often surprised I say this because peoples concept is that its heckaz, but its not, Its chill, and very safe, so these two things make me feel relaxed here. What brought me to Tokyo was the birth of my Daughter, this experience also changed me ALOT in many ways, as a person it made me completely reevaluate whats important in life. She’s the best.

Tokyo Provides a lot of inspiration visually and culturally, if you dig for it you can find an infinite amount of juice, so this information (in the form of books, Cels, toys, random objects) along with the physicality of being here, I especially love the rot. Like when you go to the countryside and nature is fully taking over, the Japanese do rusty very well. I love it, this especially was one of the main starters for thinking about post apocalypse, when nature takes control back, again very relevant at this moment. Bat Karma Mutha Fudgers.

You produced another ceramic piece with Medicom toy, can you talk about your relationship with Medicom and the process of creating with them?

They are super cool. I always  work directly with Watanabesan, who has become a dear friend, but I think I’m his worst collaborator because I’m always asking for hard to make items, like glow in the dark textiles or reflective, or fully gold ceramics… and it will always be the most expensive option, haha, but he never says no, and we’ve (i'd like to think) made some nice things, definitely products I’m proud of, things that will last and will get used. The process for the ceramics is interesting as it goes from an analog (drawing) to 3D (digital object) to 3D print (Digital to real object) this then gets cast and made into Clay...

Can you talk a bit about your clothing line Gasius. You seem to be putting more and more focus into the line. Can you talk about your approach to your clothing compared to making art.

Yes, I try to separate the two things, in my eyes the brand is a commercial venture and art is for the brain and heart. So I approach Gasius from a graphic point, its a graphic based company, I started making clothes because I saw Skate graphics and they where the best and it made me want to make shit, just cause it was fucking cool, not really to make money ever, just to make cool shit I wanted to wear, so I think MOST IMPORTANTLY this ethos still stands, but after 27 years of making shit, I (we) thought it was about time to make a bit more money haha. A few years back I partnered with Blake / Sporadic which has been a perfect and vital input into the development of our company. Actually these days I draw very little for the brand, at the moment Its usually found or vintage material, I make all the type though... but for collaborations I’ll draw original things. 

So I guess thats the two main differences for Art vs Product. Art I’m not looking at it commercially, I’m just trying to push myself and push this movement and trying to always be as original as I can. I think thats a major part of it. Trying to originate new techniques ideas or shapes, we all push each other a lot I think (in our movement) especially Horfee, he pushes me the most…. Like in the old Cartoons when Pluto has a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other… I just have a little Horfee being like… why don’t you ...

What else can we look forward to seeing from you in 2020?

Im doing a show with Diego at Gallery Trax in the mountains (Yamanashi),  I love this place, extra most chill spot… so I’m looking forward to that... I saw a show of painting by Satoshi Ohno which I loved and it made me want to make some new paintings so... thats the art plan ( plus I’m kinda plexi’d out after Fallout)

Product wise: Next is a colab with Taipei Label Demarco lab… which is dropping very soon, we're doing a Porter colab, and a Gassy / Chillout mini collection, Suicoke Colab, a new Textile for MAYZ,  and after that more things are brewing. Gonna do a tiny jammy with Hathenbruck too.

Words / James Oliver