Interview with Aimi Odawara

photo: Karolina Hoglind

With her peculiar illustrations she has been featured in magazines and done collaborations with famous brands, now in 2014 she has finally started her own brand I&ME. We interviewed the young upcoming illustrator Aimi Odawara about her thoughts about her illustrations and what she finds important.

Q:What made you start illustrating?
A:I have always loved to draw illustrations ever since I was little and I also went to a College where I studied graphic design.

Q:As a student, what kind of illustrations did you draw?
A:As a student I did kind of extreme paintings, like drawing with paint on bodies, female bodies, for example!

Q:Are there some parts that remain in the illustrations you draw now?
A:Yeah, for example I have been adding penises in my
illustrations ever since around middle school.

Q: Are the images of these illustrations you draw from your imagination?
A: Yes, I draw them to relive my stress. I don’t like copying other people so I try not to look at other people’s illustrations.

Q: Do you have anything you’re particular about when you illustrate?
A: I don’t redraw my artworks. I only draw them once. For collages, I cut pieces from magazines, but I don’t copy them and I just cut them and that’s all.

Q: Your illustrations are said to be pop, sexual, sarcastic, dark and all kinds of expressions are made but what do you think of them yourself?
A: I think that’s what it is. I don’t like things that are pop personally but my artworks are pop. I wonder why that might be. My personality isn’t pop or bright at all…

Q: Maybe the opposite comes out?
A: The opposite comes out.

Q: You’ve collaborated with many brands in the past such as BEAMS T and JACKSON MATISSE. Which of the collaborations left the biggest impression?
A: When I collaborated with JACKSON MATISSE, it was when I didn’t have as much work as I do now. I sold a t-shirt at this collaboration and it sold more and more money came in than I thought it would and so I gained a lot of confidence.

Q: You started your own brand “I&ME” this year, was there a lot of public response?
A: Suprisingly there was a lot but overall I felt that it’s hard running a brand.

Q: How did you start your brand?
A: I started because my father worked in apparel too and he said why don’t you do it and so I started.

Q: Do you have a theme or concept for your brand, “I&ME”?
A: I make what I want to wear, so I haven’t tied my concept to one thing.

Q: Every year you hold a pop-up shop. How is it?
A: I can interact with my customers directly so although I have an online store, it is fun and interesting.

Q: You are planning on holding an exhibition this winter in Tokyo and Osaka. Could you tell us what kind of exhibition you are planning for it to be at the moment?
A: In Osaka, I am going to hold an exhibition at the same time so I hope I can express my own world as well as my brand.

Q: Do you have any ambitions or dreams?
A: I want to continue this brand and become s little bit more famous. I also want to do many different things.

Q: D you want to be an illustrator for the rest of your life?
A: Yes, I like art so I hope to continue drawing.

Q: If you were to say three things that are important to you, what would they be?
A: Hmmm…what would they be… I’ve never thought of this question…
My cat and money and myself.

Q: What is your highest priority in life?
A: I think the most important thing is to live true to yourself.