I have always believed that you make your own luck through hard work. Talent is overrated and success is just the incremental work that you put in everyday.
You can not go far without a team and without people supporting you though and in that I must say I am extremely lucky
To this day I don’t know how you measure success in art since so many of the artists we know and love are all dead and gone.
But for a global bank to say that what came out of my twisted mind is investment worthy must mean that we are doing something right.
It has been almost exactly four years since we started our art activities in China and while I always felt there was a lot of opportunity out there I never dreamed that one of our exhibitions would gather enough attention to get featured in Forbes magazine.
Very happy to have been part of this fantastic exhibition and to be able to join it remotely via video link.
A big thank you to the organizers and of course to Forbes magazine for covering the event.
Vogue is one of those power houses that you just dream of being featured in so I am still amazed that it just happened in these strange times in which we live.
I might not being going anywhere anytime soon but that does not stop my art from travelling which makes me very happy!
The article picks up 10 of my works and also features some of the movie stars that are wearing them.
The recent news frenzy around the Corona Covid-19 virus has left deep impressions on my mind and it keeps coming out in different formats when I am creating.
I did two very specific works, 1 showing my frustration over the panic that is occuring and another which shows positivity towards the future in the form of strengthened DNA from this outbreak.
Both these images were picked up by the National Newspaper in the UAE as part of an article on staying positive in the face of the tough situation.
Happy to see that my art travels across the oceans and to have been able to add something to the discussion.
Covid-19
Acrylics on paper 45cmx38cm
I find it very difficult to tap into creative energy during these crazy times….but as they say, “art is cheaper than therapy” so I took all the words that I associate with what I am experiencing (fear/paranoia/mediafrenzy/rat/bat/etc) and I made them the basis for the painting
I then let my mind flow on top both with colors and with symbols and this is what came out.
—
“Future Proof”
Acrylics on paper 45cmx38cm
“Future Proof”
Virus are what strengthens our DNA making us stronger as a species. It enters the cell and reprograms the DNA to produce more virus often totally changing the structure itself.
For a couple of days in the early summer of 2019 we took over a part of Shangai’s visual identity and turned people’s attention to the importance of having dreams.
We created the world’s first gamified fine art exhibition in a Cinema inside the Mercedez Benz Arena and then subsequently painted the skies around the Shangahi Pearl TV Tower as well as all the 10 subway lines in Central Shanghai.
Oh, and we now have Chinese movie stars wearing the art on T-shirts 😂
Every time we say “how can we ever beat this” and then we go on to do it.
I am truly blessed to have a fantastic team around me and people that support me all over the world.
Keep dreaming!
Krs
Swedish News – Sydsvenskan
It is always great to be featured in your hometown news and this was no exception. A Full color page on my exhibition at the Xi An Modern Art museum highlighting my career from when I arrived in Japan for the third time at the tender age of 24.
It all started during the 2020 Covid19 Pandemic when we could no longer travel like we used to. Suddenly local became much more important than local and many of us found a completely different rhythm in life. I had been looking for some place for a long time, since in Tokyo space is always at a premium, and suddenly a chance came along.
I saw an Instagram post and from my friend Hiroshi which made me pause. As I read it a couple of times it turns out that he had got his hands on an 40 year old house slap bang in the middle of Harajuku’s most fashionable area “Cat Street”
The name “Hitchhiker” comes from both the name of a trick when riding a BMX and at the same time a home for people who need a ride. I love the idea and have hitched a ride many times in my life so if I can give back I am more than happy.
We cleaned the place out and I was using it both as a painting studio and a gallery at the same time. We drew everyone’s stares by putting out lawn chairs, blasting music and of course eating and dringking late into the evenings.
It was never ment to last as the property is now being rennovated to a modern setting with which I completely agree. But great things never last forever and for me this time of Tatami mats, bare feet, bandanas and beer became a rejuvination and a artistic injection in a time where, to be completely fair, the world was looking pretty bleek…
If you want to be part of the legend you have to be there, see you next legend.
Krs
It all started during the 2020 Covid19 Pandemic when we could no longer travel like we used to. Suddenly local became much more important than local and many of us found a completely different rhythm in life. I had been looking for some place for a long time, since in Tokyo space is always at a premium, and suddenly a chance came along.
I saw an Instagram post and from my friend Hiroshi which made me pause. As I read it a couple of times it turns out that he had got his hands on an 40 year old house slap bang in the middle of Harajuku’s most fashionable area “Cat Street”
The name “Hitchhiker” comes from both the name of a trick when riding a BMX and at the same time a home for people who need a ride. I love the idea and have hitched a ride many times in my life so if I can give back I am more than happy.
We cleaned the place out and I was using it both as a painting studio and a gallery at the same time. We drew everyone’s stares by putting out lawn chairs, blasting music and of course eating and dringking late into the evenings.
It was never ment to last as the property is now being rennovated to a modern setting with which I completely agree. But great things never last forever and for me this time of Tatami mats, bare feet, bandanas and beer became a rejuvination and a artistic injection in a time where, to be completely fair, the world was looking pretty bleek…
If you want to be part of the legend you have to be there, see you next legend.
News & Media
HSBC x Krs
インスタフォロー
@krspaints
Click here to see the latest art
It has been almost exactly four years since we started our art activities in China and while I always felt there was a lot of opportunity out there I never dreamed that one of our exhibitions would gather enough attention to get featured in Forbes magazine.
Very happy to have been part of this fantastic exhibition and to be able to join it remotely via video link.
A big thank you to the organizers and of course to Forbes magazine for covering the event.
Full article here (Chinese only)
https://www.forbeschina.com/business/50487
Vogue Magazine
Vogue is one of those power houses that you just dream of being featured in so I am still amazed that it just happened in these strange times in which we live.
I might not being going anywhere anytime soon but that does not stop my art from travelling which makes me very happy!
The article picks up 10 of my works and also features some of the movie stars that are wearing them.
The article can be found below (Chinese)
URL
http://m.vogue.com.cn/invogue/news_14123cd860aa935e.html?from=groupmessage&isappinstalled=0
インスタフォロー
@krspaints
Click here to see the latest art
The National Newspaper – Dubai
The recent news frenzy around the Corona Covid-19 virus has left deep impressions on my mind and it keeps coming out in different formats when I am creating.
I did two very specific works, 1 showing my frustration over the panic that is occuring and another which shows positivity towards the future in the form of strengthened DNA from this outbreak.
Both these images were picked up by the National Newspaper in the UAE as part of an article on staying positive in the face of the tough situation.
Happy to see that my art travels across the oceans and to have been able to add something to the discussion.
Covid-19
Acrylics on paper 45cmx38cm
I find it very difficult to tap into creative energy during these crazy times….but as they say, “art is cheaper than therapy” so I took all the words that I associate with what I am experiencing (fear/paranoia/mediafrenzy/rat/bat/etc) and I made them the basis for the painting
I then let my mind flow on top both with colors and with symbols and this is what came out.
—
“Future Proof”
Acrylics on paper 45cmx38cm
“Future Proof”
Virus are what strengthens our DNA making us stronger as a species. It enters the cell and reprograms the DNA to produce more virus often totally changing the structure itself.
—
Article URL
https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/art/how-can-i-offer-something-positive-in-this-situation-how-artists-are-taking-on-the-coronavirus-outbreak-1.988201#10
Follow me on Instagram
@krspaints
Shanghai Jack
flamingo
For a couple of days in the early summer of 2019 we took over a part of Shangai’s visual identity and turned people’s attention to the importance of having dreams.
We created the world’s first gamified fine art exhibition in a Cinema inside the Mercedez Benz Arena and then subsequently painted the skies around the Shangahi Pearl TV Tower as well as all the 10 subway lines in Central Shanghai.
Oh, and we now have Chinese movie stars wearing the art on T-shirts 😂
Every time we say “how can we ever beat this” and then we go on to do it.
I am truly blessed to have a fantastic team around me and people that support me all over the world.
Keep dreaming!
Krs
Swedish News – Sydsvenskan
It is always great to be featured in your hometown news and this was no exception. A Full color page on my exhibition at the Xi An Modern Art museum highlighting my career from when I arrived in Japan for the third time at the tender age of 24.
China article collection
General Article
http://k.sina.com.cn/article_1985226315_7654264b00100f62y.html?cre=tianyi&mod=pcpager_focus&loc=27&r=9&doct=0&rfunc=18&tj=none&tr=9&wm=
Fika
http://www.why.com.cn/epaper/webpc/qnb/html/2019-12/15/content_98553.html
https://lohas.pclady.com.cn/193/1930026.html
Between Dream & Reality
http://www.ds388.com/archive/8wp50q.html
https://news.artron.net/20190702/n1055676.html
https://v.qq.com/x/page/i0882j6iyqx.html
Hitchhiker Gallery 2020
It all started during the 2020 Covid19 Pandemic when we could no longer travel like we used to.
Suddenly local became much more important than local and many of us found a completely different rhythm in life. I had been looking for some place for a long time, since in Tokyo space is always at a premium, and suddenly a chance came along.
I saw an Instagram post and from my friend Hiroshi which made me pause. As I read it a couple of times it turns out that he had got his hands on an 40 year old house slap bang in the middle of Harajuku’s most fashionable area “Cat Street”
The name “Hitchhiker” comes from both the name of a trick when riding a BMX and at the same time a home for people who need a ride. I love the idea and have hitched a ride many times in my life so if I can give back I am more than happy.
We cleaned the place out and I was using it both as a painting studio and a gallery at the same time. We drew everyone’s stares by putting out lawn chairs, blasting music and of course eating and dringking late into the evenings.
It was never ment to last as the property is now being rennovated to a modern setting with which I completely agree. But great things never last forever and for me this time of Tatami mats, bare feet, bandanas and beer became a rejuvination and a artistic injection in a time where, to be completely fair, the world was looking pretty bleek…
If you want to be part of the legend you have to be there, see you next legend.
Krs
It all started during the 2020 Covid19 Pandemic when we could no longer travel like we used to.
Suddenly local became much more important than local and many of us found a completely different rhythm in life. I had been looking for some place for a long time, since in Tokyo space is always at a premium, and suddenly a chance came along.
I saw an Instagram post and from my friend Hiroshi which made me pause. As I read it a couple of times it turns out that he had got his hands on an 40 year old house slap bang in the middle of Harajuku’s most fashionable area “Cat Street”
The name “Hitchhiker” comes from both the name of a trick when riding a BMX and at the same time a home for people who need a ride. I love the idea and have hitched a ride many times in my life so if I can give back I am more than happy.
We cleaned the place out and I was using it both as a painting studio and a gallery at the same time. We drew everyone’s stares by putting out lawn chairs, blasting music and of course eating and dringking late into the evenings.
It was never ment to last as the property is now being rennovated to a modern setting with which I completely agree. But great things never last forever and for me this time of Tatami mats, bare feet, bandanas and beer became a rejuvination and a artistic injection in a time where, to be completely fair, the world was looking pretty bleek…
If you want to be part of the legend you have to be there, see you next legend.
Krs
インスタフォロー
@krspaints
Click here to see the latest art