An Interview with Ryota Matsumoto | ARTicul Action  Review | March20 2015
                     ARTiculAction
Ryota Matsumoto
(Japan)
An artist's statement
The artworks of Ryota Matsumoto develop and 
demonstrate the hybrid/multi-layered process, where 
varying scale, juxtaposition of different forms, intertwined 
textures/tones are applied to reflect the spatio-temporal 
conditions of our ever-evolving urban and ecological 
environments. They are created to act as the catalyst for 
defining speculative changes in our notions of cities, 
socities and cultures.
His drawings explore a hybrid drawing technique 
combining both traditional media (ink, acrylic, and 
graphite) and digital media (algorithmic processing, 
scripting and image compositing with custom software ).
The algorithmic and generative processes are applied to 
create lines, curves and multi-dimensional forms. Then 
they are redefined and reconfigured with traditional 
painting/drawing techniques that add colors, textures and 
details to compositions. 
Ryota Matsumoto is a principal of an award-winning 
design office, Ryota Matsumoto Studio based in Tokyo. 
He is an artist, designer and urban planner. Born in 1972, 
Ryota was raised in Hong Kong and Japan.
He received Master of Architecture from University of 
Pennsylvania in 2007 after studying at Architectural 
Association in London and Mackintosh School of 
Architecture, Glasgow School of Art in early 90’s. His art 
and built work are featured in numerous publications and 
exhibitions internationally.
His current interest gravitates around the embodiment of 
cultural possibilities in art, architecture, and urban 
topography.
Ryota Matsumoto
Marked by the Atlas of an Endless Spin Cy
ARTiculAction
cle, Medium: Mixed Media, Year: 2014, Dimensions: 33inx45in
ARTiculAction
An interview with
Ryota Matsumoto
An interview by Dario Rutigliano, curator
Ryota Matsumoto is not just an interesting 
artist, but also an accomplished designer 
and urban planner: the deep symbiosis 
between elements from Architecture, 
Design and Technology allows the viewer to 
perceive the subtle but undeniable 
continuity between tradition and 
modernity. Through a refined approach in 
which techniques from opposite disciplines 
as graphite drawing and algorithmic 
processing, merge together in an 
harmonious combination, he gives life to a 
multi-layered experience and effectively 
stresses the way in which our perception of 
abstract shapes depends on cultural Ryota Matsumoto
perspectives It is with a real pleasure that I 
would like to introduce our readers to his 
stimulating works.
Hello Ryota, and welcome to To a large extent, Contemporary Art could be 
ARTiculAction. I would start this interview defined as fine art that manages to explore 
with my usual introductory question: what timeless themes with the use of current 
in your opinion defines a work of Art? By technologies or drawing techniques. Of course, 
the way, what could be in your opinion the there are also impending issues of 
features that mark an artworks as a piece multiculturalism, globalization and ecological 
of Contemporary Art? 
concerns that we might need to address with 
particular emphasis in order to meet the 
Hello, Thank you for giving the opportunity to 
criteria of Contemporary Art, but I always 
talk about my work. I always perceive art as a 
means to mirror and reflect socio-economic consider a guiding principle that defines art, 
and cultural substrates in the past, present remains the same for centuries and 
and possibly future from one’s unique point of Contemporary Art is no exception for sure.
view. I believe the most successful art 
transmits ideas and values inherent in our Would you like to tell us something about 
culture across the wide span of space and your background? You have a very solid 
time. That is why great works of art manage education, and after your studies at 
to stay relevant for a long time to come. Architectural Association in London and 
Mackintosh School of Architecture, 
In the ideal world, we could examine the past, Glasgow, you degreed with a Master of 
interpret the present and even conjecture Architecture from University of 
about the future strictly within the framework Pennsylvania. How have these experiences 
of single piece of art. impacted on your developement as an artist 
Ryota Matsumoto ARTiculAction
the High Overdrive and Its Undefinable Consequence Mixed Media 141221 79cmx119cm
and on the way you currently produce your education comes down to always being open 
artworks? minded to new and different ideas. It definitely 
supports my broad outlook on life as well.
I believe all the schools help me establish my 
own perspective and identity for working in the Before starting to elaborate about your 
creative field one way or the other. I’d also like production, would you like to tell to our 
to point out that every school has their own readers something about your process and 
set up for making your artworks? In 
unique direction and strength in pedagogical 
particular, what technical aspects do you 
approach that is attributed to their culturally 
mainly focus on your work? And how much 
diverse student body and specific geographical preparation and time do you put in before 
location of the school. These school and during the process of creating a piece? 
characteristics allow me to learn and explore 
the various facets of creativity and innovation I use several different mediums and always 
in Architecture and Art. At any rate, the most avoid being overtly systematic. So I take on a 
important lesson that I learned from my different approach for every work. As far as 
ARTiculAction Ryota Matsumoto
common factors among my work are 
concerned, I always employ a hybrid 
technique that blends traditional 
techniques with digital media. That 
is actually the most crucial aspect of 
my work. The hybrid technique 
allows me to add a warm human 
touch and layers of texture to a 
precision of digital drawings. I 
usually need a few days for 
preparation. However, I take an 
improvisational approach to my 
painting occasionally. In that case, I 
am less preoccupied with technical 
and compositional issues.
Now let's focus on your artistic 
production: I would start from 
"Hollow Ghosts for Those Restless 
Spirits" that our readers have 
already started to get to know in 
the introductory pages of this 
article: and I would suggest to our 
readers to visit yur website 
directly at 
http://ryotamatsumotostudio.blog
spot.it/ in order to get a wider 
idea of your artistic production... 
In the meanwhile, would you like 
to tell us something about the 
genesis of these works? What was 
your initial inspiration? 
I believe one of the most important 
aspects of creating art is intuition 
and the other aspect is one’s 
personal experience and individual 
background. In my case, my over 
twenty years experience in 
architecture and urban design play 
the pivotal role in my creative 
process and inspiration. With this 
work, I am inspired by the 
relationship of people to 
architecture in modern urban 
settings and also captured the 
snapshot of the rapid changes of 
cityscapes with the depiction of 
Ryota Matsumoto ARTiculAction
ARTiculAction Ryota Matsumoto
the Intersection of Infinite Planes, Medium: Mixed Media, Year: 2014, Dimensions: 27inx47in
various forms in the assembly/disassembly the way you effectively challenge the 
procedures. dichotomy between the perception of the 
real and the oniric dimension...so I would 
One of the features of the Intersection of like to ask you if in your opinion personal 
experience is an absolutely indespensable 
Infinite Planes that has impacted on me is 
part of a creative process... Do you think that 
Ryota Matsumoto
the Indistinct Notion of an Object Trajectory
Mixed Media 141210 75cmx56cm
dichotomy and contrapuntal relationship among 
organic and inorganic, structural and amorphous 
as well as small/personal objects and large 
structures. These polar opposite elements could 
integrate with each other and morph into totally 
new structures in my paintings. My direct 
experience can be defined as a springboard for 
triggering initial inspiration. Then my imagination 
takes it further beyond my experience.
a creative process could be disconnected Multidisciplinarity is a crucial aspect of your 
from direct experience? art practice and maybe because I have a 
scientific background, I'm always delighted to 
I’ve often worked with contemporary ethical come across an interesting example of how Art 
and aesthetic values of cities and their rapid and Technology can establish an effective 
developments which can be characterized by symbiosis, as in the interesting "Those Who 
ARTiculAction Ryota Matsumoto
Those Who Affirm the Spontaneity of Every Event Mixed Media 140821 84cmx119cm
Affirm the Spontaneity of Every Event", where  since I’ve worked as a designer and an artist 
you have created a rich combination between for quite a while. The confluence of seemingly 
traditional materials as ink, acrylic, graphite opposing techniques are aimed at achieving 
and digital media so I would take this both earthiness/warmness of traditional 
occasions to ask what's your point about this painting and delicate complexity of digital art in 
fruitful contamination... my work. 
By the way, while crossing the borders of I think we can no longer rely on one-
different artistic fields have you ever dimensional/ traditional representational 
happened to realize that a symbiosis between systems to decipher and depict the intricacies 
of our contemporary society and the 
different disciplines is the only way to achieve 
humanization of digital technologies are 
some results, to express some concepts? 
certainly indispensable for venturing into the 
The hybrid technique comes naturally to me new paradigm of fine art. 
Ryota Matsumoto ARTiculAction
the Hanging Gardens of Ancient Creek, Mixed Media 141207 84cmx119cm
Another interesting pieces of yours on which comments on your choice of "palette" and 
I would like to spend some words are how it has changed over time?
entitled "the Hanging Gardens of Ancient 
Creek" and "Stretched into an Infinite Vapor I have tendency to use the color of stark 
of Spectral Resonance": one of the feature contrast to create the sense of movement and 
that has mostly struck on me is the dynamism to the overall composition. That 
dynamicity, the sense of movement that you being said, the subtle difference in color is also 
have been capable of impressing on the applied to express a sense of depth and to give 
canvas... and I have highly appreciated the the clarity to figure-ground relationship.
nuance of intense red which, combining with 
vivid tones, creates an interesting synergy I have highly appreciates the way your multi-
rather than a contrast, and especially on the layered approach is capable of bringing an 
neutral background: by the way, any high level of significance to abstract shapes: 
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Ryota Matsumoto ARTiculAction
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Ryota Matsumoto ARTiculAction
and I would go as far as to state that in a 
certain sense your works urge the viewers' 
perception in order to challenge the 
common way to perceive not only the outside 
world, but our inner dimension... By the way, 
I'm sort of convinced that some informations 
& ideas are hidden, or even "encrypted" in 
the environment we live in, so we need -in a 
way- to decipher them. Maybe that one of 
the roles of an artist could be to reveal 
unexpected sides of Nature, especially of our 
inner Nature... what's your point about this?
My artworks embrace and transmit ever- 
diversifing interdisciplinary views on the urban 
milieu in which we live in today. 
At the same time, there are also more personal 
works which are generated from their own 
narrative structures to stand on their own as 
individual entities. So I’d say most of my work 
are often layered with multiple meanings and 
are also very much open to anyone’s 
interpretation simultaneously. 
As you have stated once, your current 
interest gravitates around the embodiment 
of cultural possibilities in art, architecture, 
and urban topography: I can recognize in 
this a socio politic feature and although I'm 
aware that this might sound a bit naïf, I have 
to admit that I'm sort of convinced that Art 
-especially nowadays- could play an effective 
role in sociopolitical questions, as in human 
rights issues: not only just by offering to 
people a generic platform for expression... I 
would go as far as to state that Art could 
even steer people's behaviour... what's your 
point about this? Does it sound a bit 
exaggerated?
I am much more interested in the psychological 
effects of art and how it changes and affects 
one’s aesthetic experience. 
To a large extent, this also involves how people 
relate themselves to art in the context of their 
everyday lives. I wouldn’t go so far as to say art 
is able to steer one’s view towards socio-
political agendas.
Space Station Talks Visualized From Orbiter Mixed Media 150111 71cmx118cm

ARTiculAction Ryota Matsumoto
You are an accomplished artist and a 
principal of an award-winning design 
office: during your career your works have 
been shown in several occasions: it goes 
without saying that feedbacks and 
especially awards are capable of 
supporting an artist: I was just wondering 
if the expectation of a positive feedback- 
could even influence the process of an 
artist... do you take the audience into 
account when you are planning or creating 
a piece?
It is almost impossible to please everyone 
with my art. 
Hopefully, it appeals to a certain people and 
that is something I might take into 
consideration, while working on a piece. 
Thanks a lot for your time and for sharing 
your thoughts, Ryota. My last question 
deals with your future plans: what's next 
for you? Anything coming up for you 
professionally that you would like readers 
to be aware of? 
It is always my pleasure! 
I’ve been working on a collaborative project 
with both industrial designer and architect for 
a while. 
There will also be exhibitions of my work in 
Italy and the United States this year. 
Our Perceptions Lay Bare as Incongruent 
Swashes Pass Overhead 
Mixed Media 150226 77cmx119cm
Ryota Matsumoto ARTiculAction