Purple Magazine
— Purple #43 S/S 2025
The Tokyo Diary Issue

tomoo gokita

interview

by OLIVIER ZAHM

portrait

by CHIKASHI SUZUKI

 

Tomoo Gokita’s paintings draw inspiration from Japanese subcultural references — vintage magazines, film stills, adult publications, and found images — transforming them into a symbolic and enigmatic visual language that deconstructs identity and narcissism.

 

OLIVIER ZAHM — Would you agree that your paintings smile at us ironically?

TOMOO GOKITA — I completely agree. I want people to laugh all the time.

OLIVIER ZAHM — Are painted people more interesting to you than real people?

TOMOO GOKITA — I think real people are crazier and more dangerous.

OLIVIER ZAHM — Do you like French Surrealists? 

TOMOO GOKITA — I’m not particularly interested in Surrealism, but I find it interesting that so many people point out the similarities with my work.

OLIVIER ZAHM — Do you collect vintage comics and magazines?

TOMOO GOKITA — Ten years ago, I stopped buying magazines as reference material. I automatically stopped sampling from magazines.

OLIVIER ZAHM — Do you believe in aliens, ghosts, or invisible creatures?

TOMOO GOKITA — Certainly, I think there are a few I haven’t come across yet.

OLIVIER ZAHM — What kind of music do you listen to?

TOMOO GOKITA — All kinds. It’s an impossible wish, but I want to listen to all the music I’ve never heard before until the day I die.

OLIVIER ZAHM — Do you believe in life on other planets?

TOMOO GOKITA — Yes.

OLIVIER ZAHM — Do you believe in love?

TOMOO GOKITA — Yes.

OLIVIER ZAHM — Who is your favorite Japanese artist?

TOMOO GOKITA — The professional wrestling and martial artist Antonio Inoki.

OLIVIER ZAHM — Which city is closest in spirit to Tokyo? 

TOMOO GOKITA — Certainly Seoul, Korea. The cityscape is very similar to Tokyo, but their national character and mentality are completely different.

OLIVIER ZAHM — What do you like about Tokyo that you don’t find elsewhere?

TOMOO GOKITA — Tokyo is a bunch of country bumpkins. I love it, and I hate it.

OLIVIER ZAHM — Are there still underground scenes in Tokyo? 

TOMOO GOKITA — The underground scene that certainly existed in the ’80s and ’90s seems to have become average and boring.

 

ALL ARTWORK COPYRIGHT TOMOO GOKITA, COURTESY OF TAKA ISHII GALLERY

[Table of contents]

Purple #43 S/S 2025 The Tokyo Diary Issue

Table of contents

© Purple Institute

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