Born in the UK in 1992, Felix Treadwell represents one of the leading artists of a new generation of British art today. After completing his BA at the Comberwell College of Arts, Treadwell studied painting at the Royal College of Art, graduating in 2018. In this interview, we asked him about the new paintings he is presenting at our project space ‘2x2x2’ and his future artistic plans.

IM LABOR__First of all, thank you for showing your work with us.

FELIX TREADWELL__Thank you too. I'm very happy to have my work in Japan.

IL__I'd like to start this interview by asking you about your new paintings being presented at our project space ‘2x2x2.’

FT__Okay, cool.

IL__What impressed me most when I first saw a picture of the blue painting of a running boy is that the boy seemed to be showing an interest in the outside world.

FT__That's true.

IL__In your previous paintings, the characters never looked you in the eyes as if they are interested in nothing. For example, 'Blue Puff'(1) and 'Dark Age'(2), those characters seem like they almost refuse to make eye contact. 

FT__Yeah, they are anxious and timid. But now I want to bring optimism and a sense of positivity in our increasingly sad world.

IL__Yes, I actually noticed that. A few characters from your recent work are casting a side glance at us, such as 'Attack on Titan' (3) and ' A girl wearing a beret' (4). Is that your intention?

FT__I feel like perhaps I need my characters to engage more with audiences. When the characters are looking out at our world, our relationship dynamic changes. It's less voyeuristic.

IL__I see. Do you decide what to paint before you start?

FT__I draw sketches, then I find an interesting composition. I like using comic book panels and looking how they are arranged.

IL__What about mediums? You like to use various types of mediums.

FT__Mixing handheld brush with airbrush techniques has been very exciting, a new technique I'm working with currently. Airbrush allows me to soften the characters and bring out subtle textures in their expression of faces. I like to sketch with anything but mostly crayons. Since I was a kid, drawing has always been the most immediate and fun way of creating an idea, and it still is for me.

IL__Did you like to paint when you were a kid too?

FT__Yeah, I have always been drawn to figurative drawings since childhood. I used to draw Rugrats and Godzilla.

IL__Did you create your own monsters like Godzilla?

FT__I used to, but now I focus on people and animals more than monsters. I'm trying to create a world resembling ours.

IL__influenced by your daily life?

FT__I think so. I'm obsessed with my childhood and yearn for it to come back.

IL__That's interesting. Any specific childhood memories you obsessed with? If you don't mind me asking.

FT__Not specifically, just the mindset and sense of adventure I had as a teenager. I was open to anything and wanted to try everything.

IL__Fearless kid.

FT__Yeah, I'm definitely much more scared of everything now than I was 10 years ago.

IL__I know you’ve always enjoyed painting, but when was the first time you realized that this is something you want to do as a job?

FT__Maybe around 5 years ago during my BA. I realized it was my only way to enjoy my life. It's like a treatment to my mental problems.

IL__You mean you can find a sense of calm when you make paintings?

FT__Yeah, definitely. It can make me stressed too, but it helps me calm down mostly. I'm trying to fight it, like all artists.

IL__Yeah. Do you come in the studio at a fixed time every day?

FT__Mostly, everyday, around 10:30 am. I don't like working when it's dark outside.

IL__Then you tend to leave the studio quite early?

FT__Yes, my painting gets worse and worse the darker it gets outside as I grow more tired and impatient. I'm the world's most impatient person.

IL__How do you spend your time outside the studio then?

FT__Gaming - both card games and computer. Anything that escaped our world into another world. I like massive multiplayer online games.

IL__Can you name some of the games you are currently playing?

FT__‘World of Warcraft’, ‘Magic: the gathering’, and ‘Doom’. I don't know if these are popular in Japan.

IL__They are popular here too.

FT__Interesting. I know you have Monster Hunter.

IL__Yeah, it's my favorite. Do you play it?

FT__I never tried, but I want to. Maybe we can play.

IL__Yes definitely, next time you visit in Japan. I know you used to live in Japan for a year as an exchange student at Kyoto Seika University, right.

FT__Yes.

IL__Do you think that experience has influenced your work?

FT__I think so. I don't know how to explain it but I learned a lot from being in Japan as a person, just culturally. I think Japanese people have a lot of similarities to British people in some ways.

IL__Which similarities in particular?

FT__Sense of humor and politeness mainly. We have a unique sense of humor. We have a strong obsession with social classes. Also, we both drive the left side.

IL__Yeah, you are right. Also, a way to say "No."

FT__True.

IL__What about Art? How do you see Japanese Art today as a British artist based in and working in London?

FT__I think we are both having an identity crisis; it is hard to define what we are now. Our countries have been rapidly changing politically, and our generation is in a confusing time. We have a lot of work to pick up the pieces of the older generation as young people. Maybe this can be seen, but also my work might not even look British. It's hard to answer, sorry.

IL__That’s fine. I just wanted to ask a British artist's opinions about Japanese art today.

FT__I think it is waiting for a new wave of Japanese artists holding limelights. I think maybe we need a fresher vision from younger generation of artists there.

IL__Yeah, I think so too. Before wrapping up this interview, do you mind me asking you one more question?

FT__That's fine.

IL__Thank you. I want to ask you about your future plans as an artist.

FT__Okay. I want to expand and create more depth in the world of my painting. I'm making a toy of one of my character. This is a childhood dream of mine that is finally happening. I want the work to be accessible to anyone. I dont know where my work will go but I want it to become bigger and louder. 
I'm optimistic and believe in myself to carry out this goal.

IL__I love that. I cannot wait to see a toy you are making as well. Thank you so much for making time for the interview today.

FT__Thank you so much.