From DiscoverNikkei.org
Shiro Fujioka (DJ Shiro)
Musician, visual artist & vinyl toy designer
DJ Shiro Interview
(originally published in 2004 at Vinyl Fantasy)
VF: Tell us a little bit about yourself, what inspires you etc.
SF: My name's Shiro Fujioka I was born & raised in Los Angeles. I'm Blackanese = Black + Japanese & part owner of the Workhorse Gallery/Design firm in Silver Lake, CA. I'm also a musician, I've produced music under the name DJ Shiro and Smog Monster for a few labels, e.g.: Bomb Hip-Hop (return of the dj vol.3) N2O Entertainment (Rollout remix, Pain, Vulcan Death Grip, Fragments), Stereo-Type (Subterranean breaks 2) and Audible Objects (Subterranean Breaks, Sound Sleep, Human Contact).
The thing that inspires me the most these days is being able to work with my friends doing something I love for a living.
VF: Do you have a particular style when you're painting and do you collaborate with any other artists?
SF: I guess I don't have a particular style, my style changes as I change and grow as a human being. I like to incorporate things that inspire me in life, I grew up in the 80's and graffiti culture was a big influence so it's apart of my style.
I'm also really interested in religion and the occult, I find numerology and sacred geometry fascinating, these themes play a big role in my artwork.
As far as collaborating with other artists I haven't done too much but I plan on doing a collab with my friends/ business partners Logan Hicks and Arvay Adams.
VF: With artists on both sides of the pond diversifying into toys did you see it as a logical progression?
SF: I think most artists in my age group, were really into toys as kids in the 80's from Star Wars, G.I. Joe, Transformers and all the Mego action figures, so I think it was only a matter of time before artist started producing 3d versions of their work.
I hear people say that the urban toy market is over-saturated and won't last because some of the characters don't have a story. I would have to disagree with that statement, I just see the toys as art and if the characters lack a background story maybe some figures will inspire a writer to create a story based around a figure that they saw at Kid Robot or Double Punch.
VF: The attention to detail on your figures is amazing. have you thought about doing larger runs of them or do you feel this would detract from the 'customised' feel of them?
SF: I've decided to only do handmade versions of the Vandals and Pothead figures, I think it's cool to have something handmade in the age of roto casting. I do plan on releasing 2 figures that will be produced in small runs of 200-300 in 2005.
VF: Who are your top 5 toy designers at the moment and why?
SF: 1. I have to give Michael Lau props, most of us wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for him he paved the way for a lot of toy designers and continues to come up with fresh designs. 2. I'm a big fan of Futura's work I love all the Pointman and U.N.K.L.E. stuff he does. 3. Flying Fortress is going to be a name to watch, he's such a good illustrator. I hope he makes more toys in the future because the Teddy Troops are one of my all time favorites. 4. Graff legend Seen is producing some amazing work. 5. I would also like to see more of Doze Green's work in toy form.
VF: Can you give us a glimpse of the future and what to expect from you over he coming months?
SF: I have a pretty full plate for the rest of this year and most of next year:-
My business partners and I (Workhorse Collective) are curating a stencil show called bridges and islands at the Upper Playground gallery in San Francisco in January. Then in February we'll be back in S.F. to paint murals in a few rooms and have a group show at the Hotel Des Arts. I'm also in the process of releasing a new 6 song EP that will be released with my first mass produced figure 'The Anti-Social Worker'.
VF: Finally, who would be your dream collaboration if you could pick from any field - toy design, graf, music, tv - anything?
SF: Wow that's a hard question, so many great people to work with. I would love to do the music for an Alfred Hitchcock film or maybe an M. Knight Shyamalan because he's still alive. It would also be really cool to work with Futura on an animated dvd/album and if I could do a documentary on the Bad Brains I would be one happy bastard.