Italian psychedelic artist Matteo Guarnaccia, who collaborated with Vivienne Westwood on bags and T-shirts this season, visited Japan. His visit coincided with a special exhibition of his work at both the Vivienne Westwood Aoyama store and the Vivienne Westwood Man Omotesando store, providing a rare opportunity to see his work, a representative of the Italian hippie movement, which is relatively unknown in Japan.
He has created psychedelic artworks for album covers by artists such as Donovan and the Byrds, illustrations for musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and Jerry Garcia, magazines, and posters, and is also known for his work on shoes with Vivienne Westwood. This time, his archive of illustrations, collages, and more is on display at both stores.
The exhibition is held exclusively in Tokyo, coinciding with the release of a collaborative clutch bag, Boston bag, and T-shirt featuring his work on the 9th. On the third floor of the Aoyama store, psychedelic-print cushions brought from Milan by Matteo and publications (not for sale) depicting figures who influenced hippie culture are on display. "I started working with Vivienne more than 20 years ago. We first met in London, and since then, we've been going back and forth between each other's studios, talking about all sorts of things. The pieces on display this time were selected by Vivienne from our archives when she visited my Milan studio," Matteo says. "Vivienne was a punk, and I was a hippie. Though our movements are different, I sympathize with her attitude of always speaking out against society. Along with the message of her collections each season, her activist activities have not changed, and her work is truly 'heritage.' The illustration I painted this time expresses this," Matteo says, using a newspaper-style illustration.
This Italian hippie legend traveled all over the world, but this was his second visit to Japan in 12 years. Surrounded by many young Japanese Vivienne Westwood fans at the reception, he happily signed autographs. When asked, "Which artist has influenced you the most?" he laughed and replied, "Hmm, that's a difficult question. Lately, perhaps because I'm Italian, I've been thinking a lot about the Renaissance."
The Matteo Guarnaccia special exhibition will be held at both the Vivienne Westwood Aoyama store and the Vivienne Westwood Man Omotesando store until May 24th.
