ARITZIA LOVES

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Out here on the Northwest Coast, we value both art and action sports. So when the two come together, it makes for an epic occasion. The State of the Art gallery opening bash last Friday kicked off the Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival in Whistler. Featuring some of the best international artists in the ski and snowboard graphics realm and a couple of our friends, the TNA team headed up to get inspired and party with our amigos.

DJ Canosis was banging a throwback hip hop soundtrack that took us back to the street art climate of the early '90s. It seemed only natural, then, that I would bump into Ben Tour in front of his freshly completed installation piece. Ben grew up in Toronto painting freight trains after school and listening to backpack rap. Catching up was nostalgic—just like the music moving the crowd.

The Endeavor Snowboards camp was posted just kitty corner from Ben. We hadn't seen some of the crew since the TNA X Endeavor snowboard collab last winter, which called for a round of hugs and handshakes.

A major part of TNA is our graphic design program. We draw inspiration from everything from '80s skate magazines to primitive craft. When it comes to artists, we are stoked to talk shop, give props and learn from one another. We were amped to pick the brain of artist Taka Sudo at the show.

TNA: Taka! Nice to meet you. Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.

Taka Sudo: I'm a freelance graphic designer for Endeavor Snowboards and Faction Skis. I also have my own t-shirt line called LADE Clothing. It's a label out of Japan, but things are a little crazy over there right now, so we've slowed down.

TNA: Where are you originally from?

TS: A suburb of Tokyo.

TNA: But, you live in Whistler now. What brought you out here?

TS: Skiing, of course. Fresh snow, big mountains.

TNA: What is the biggest difference between Japan and the Northwest Coast?

TS: The taste of the beer. Haha! People are the same--same energy, same everywhere. But, the beer and coffee are different.

TNA: What do you love about Whistler?

TS: There are lots of creative young people out here. People value and understand culture.

TNA: What would you rather be surrounded by--skyscrapers or mountains?

TS: Skyscrapers.

TNA: You use a lot of animals in your graphics. If you could be an animal, what would you be?

TS: A killer whale.

TNA: What inspires your art?

TS: Positive and negative energy. Good news and bad news. Everything.

TNA: Tell us about an inspiration that isn't obvious in your art.

TS: I like how animals look like humans—they have the same expressions.

TNA: Can you tell us about something you're currently working on?

TS: I'll be in group show in June at the Ayden gallery in Vancouver, which opens on June 17. Then, there's a solo show in September at the Hellion gallery in Portland, OR. Also, I'm working on a commissioned piece for a company, but I can't really talk about it. It's top secret.

TNA: Really? You can tell us.

TS: Haha! I really can't.

TNA: What do you think of this art show?

TS: Having an art show in a ski town is really different. It doesn't attract the typical show-goer and there are a lot of young people.

TNA: This DJ is playing a lot of '90s hip hop. Are you a fan?

TS: Yeah, I like hip hop. Last month, I was in a live-painting show and that guy from Pharcyde, SlimKid3, played.  It was really cool.

TNA: Tell us about your future plans? Are you going to stay in Whistler forever?

TS: I'm planning to move to Vancouver soon. I travel a lot, mostly to the States, and Japan once or twice a year. I studied filmmaking at one time; I would like to apply my art to film.

Check out more of Taka's art here.

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