To commemorate the POP UP event in Paris, a special collaboration with multi-artist Shinsuke Kawahara—who is active in the city—has come to life.
We spoke with him about the sensibilities he has cultivated there and the thoughts behind this collaboration.

PROFILE

Shinsuke Kawahara

A multi-disciplinary artist based in Paris since the 1980s.
He has held a solo exhibition at ELEVEN STEENS in Brussels and has presented his work in numerous exhibitions both in Japan and abroad, including at the Monnaie de Paris, the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris, and the Dendoin Hall of Nishi Hongan-ji Temple.

He has also produced many works through collaborations with companies and brands.
His extensive collaborations with Hermès include the limited-edition bottle design for the fragrance Rose Ikebana, numerous product designs for the brand’s sustainability division petit h, and the artistic scenography for the exhibition “Hermès petit h – Peti Ash” held at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, in April 2023—an installation that transcended the boundaries of space and content.

The “rabbit” has long been one of the most important themes in his artistic practice.

What is the most important thing for you in your creative work?

The world is full of remarkable things and incredibly talented people.
Naturally, when you encounter them, you can’t help but be influenced.
That influence can be wonderful, but for someone who creates, it can also be challenging at times.
I’m no genius, so I try to stay mindful of facing myself—of returning to my own inner voice.

When do ideas tend to come to you? And is there anything that particularly inspires you?

Ideas can strike at any moment.
Sometimes, just as I’m about to fall asleep, I suddenly think, “I want to create this!”—and once that happens, I can’t sleep anymore and end up working in the middle of the night.
The same goes for when I’m walking through the city or riding the bus.

As for the source of my inspiration, even I don’t fully understand it.
What comes out is never calculated—it’s more like the instinctive urge of a child who simply wants to create or draw.
When I first moved to Paris, I used to pick up things like trash or scraps of paper from the streets because the colors felt so fresh to me. (laughs)

What does the city of Paris mean to you?

It’s a place where I can live my everyday life with ease—yet it’s also a city that shows me moments of beauty, day after day.

Do you have any favorite places in Tokyo?

The area around the Imperial Palace. I don’t run there or anything—I simply walk. I like wandering through the used bookstores in Kanda-Jinbōchō, then strolling all the way to Ginza for lunch.

Could you tell us about the particular points of focus or craftsmanship that you put into this piece?

PETIT USAGI BANDANA　¥9,350
PETIT USAGI T-SHIRT　¥13,200
PETIT USAGI TOTE BAG　¥9,900
The collaboration items are also scheduled to be available in Japan:
In stores from December 18, and online from December 20.