Sebastian Masuda (増田 セバスチャン, Masuda Sebasuchan; born August 7, 1970), is a Japanese artist, art director, and producer of the Harajuku shop 6%DOKIDOKI. Born in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He has been active from 1995 to current day.
He has directed and designed performances for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. He is known as a pioneer of kawaii culture and often referred to as the "king of kawaii" or "father of kawaii"
Career
Masuda was born in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He began his career in the world of theater and contemporary art, but in 1995, Sebastian opened 6%DOKIDOKI in Ura-Harajuku. Celebrities have visited 6%DOKIDOKI, including Conan O'Brien, and clothing and accessories have been worn by BLACKPINK, and Nicki Minaj.
He was the art director for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's Pon Pon Pon music video in 2011, which garnered international attention. He designed the Kawaii Monster Cafe in Harajuku, which had been a tourist destination, including visits from celebrities Kim Kardashian, singer Dua Lipa and Jennie of K-pop’s Blackpink, Sushidelic in SoHo, Manhattan, New York City, and "Miracle Gift Parade" to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the opening of Sanrio Puroland.
In 2014, he began his first solo exhibition Colorful Rebellion -Seventh Nightmare- in New York.
In 2017, he was appointed as a Cultural Envoy by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and he has lived in the Netherlands while producing artwork, he has traveled to the African continent doing workshops and lectures. He is a visiting professor for Kyoto University of Art and Design and Yokohama College of Art and Design. He was also a visiting scholar at the Department of East Asian Studies at NYU
Solo exhibitions
2014「Colorful Rebellion –Seventh nightmare-」(Kianga Ellis Projects, New York February 28, 2014 – March 29, 2014) (Young At Art Museum, Miami July 12, 2014 – January 5, 2015) (Padiglione Visconti, Italy April 14, 2015 – April 19, 2015) (Terrada T-Art Gallery, Tokyo December 18 – 27, 2015) (Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam September 28, 2018 – September 1, 2019)
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