Last year, Japanese fan site gardener
crazys posted a detailed history
of Michael Lau's Neatnikܲa single set of
figures designed for a 1998 exhibition in
Tokyo. Recent interest in the Neatnik exhibition
prompted further exploration on our part;
with gardener crazy's permission, we've translated
the article for the non-Japanese speakers:
In February 2002 five rare figures created
by Michael Lau suddenly appeared on a net
auction. I had become interested in Michael
Lau and was following is work, but had never
heard of these figures. I received some
valuable information and photos of the figures
from the person who had purchased the figures
online and was thus introduced to the Neatniks.
In November 1998, the watch maker Seiko
held an exhibition in Aoyama, Tokyo to commemorate
their "Neatnik" series from the ALBA line.
In addition to a variety of Japanese artists,
Hong Kong's Colan Ho, The Amazing Twins
and Michael Lau were invited to participate.
Michael Lau created five 12-inch grayscale
figures for the exhibit, which were displayed
in action poses on a platform made up of
16 metal boxes and apparently sold at auction.
The figures had the realistic expression
and elaborate tailoring that would define
his gardenergala figures (which were also
introduced by Happygardener in 1998). Each
figure wore a Neatnik wristwatch, and featured
the gardenergala logo on its back.
A catalog was printed to go along with
the Neatnik exhibit and each participating
artist was asked the same series of questions.
Here are Michael Lau`s answers:
Q: Who do you create for?
A: If you are speaking about this moment
right now, for the Neatnik exhibit.
Q: How many people do you need
to impress to be satisfied with your own
work?
A: I just want any person who likes my work
to deeply appreciate it.
Q: Please define the following
words: Artist, Designer, Craftsman
A: Artist = someone who creates for themselves.
Designer = someone who creates for a stranger.
Craftsman = someone who creates for someone
else.
Q: Are you conscious of these
three categories?
A: I am at once an artist, designer and
craftsman
Q: When you are creating what
is the initial priority?
A: Timing and being crazy about something
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