Overture

Japanese/American art duo Overture creates a parallel visual reality. Their child-like sense of wonder and mythic world of spirits & creatures informs an allegorical and wide-eyed body of work, from animations to clothing design.

Overture’s inception was appropriately whimsical. Husband-wife team Jason Brown and Aya Yamaksaki met in 2004, on a camping trip to Okutama, Japan. Under the open sky, they envisioned, in their own words, “a great opera house where all creatures from all worlds could gather and perform…and mingle together.”

As for their name, the duo says: “as the opening to an opera, Overture…stands to introduce and describe these different worlds and creatures through our work. We’ve been mingling our dreams and worlds ever since, always keeping the opera house on the horizon.”

Though they chose not to prescribe to a specific philosophy for fear of stasis, Overture stays true to the wonderment of imagination. They manifest creatures of all kinds, from myriad worlds and walks of life. Through their animations and illustrations, Overture brings these creatures to life, in a unique visual universe.

Overture’s commitment to their folkloric vision has done them well. Nominated for the 2009 Illustrative’s Young Illustrator Award, their work will appear at this year’s Spring Exhibition in Milan (details for this are forthcoming). Japanese brand Uniqlo, which has stores in Tokyo, New York, Paris and London, is currently selling shirts with Overture designs.

2010 promises to be a busy year for the duo. On March 11th, Overture hosts an event at designer IVANAhelsinki’s New York store. They will be showing animations, telling stories, and making masks with attendees.

Overture will show an animation made in collaboration with musician KiraKira at festivals throughout 2010. Details on this, and their first full-length film, currently in conceptualization, can be found at: www.overture-image.blogspot.com.

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by William Gish
Gloobbi Art

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