As all my friends know, I’m very critical about Metaverse’s art. Many SL resident discovered in world their artistic attitude, but very few are, for me, the ones that have really something to communicate with their realizations. And one of these few is Mikati Slade, a Japanese artist that I discovered after visited her installation in the MiC land. Thanks to my friend Mexi Lane, I received an invitation to see this very large installation. It’s something that is impossibile to descibe, it’s necessary to see it directly (http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/MiC/131/219/22). After this visit (I did the path many times for better get the wonderful effects), I decided to interview soon this artist. I wished to compare my own vision of her realization, with the original thinking of the artist. So, I looked for her, that was been very helpful, and here is the interview made in Sunday morning (for Italy).

[01:07:38] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: hello Mikati

[01:07:55] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: how are you?

[01:07:55] Mikati Slade: hello Aquila!

[01:08:01] Mikati Slade: i am good thank you!

[01:08:54] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: what language do you prefer, english or italian?

[01:09:37] Mikati Slade: oh, honestly i want to use english, but i can use Translator also

[01:10:07] Mikati Slade: if you trouble with english, then ok in Italian language

[01:13:24] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: English is good for me, don’t worry, maybe I’ll make some mistakes … my Englis is not perfect

[01:14:54] Mikati Slade: please switch to italian language anytimes

[01:15:15] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: ok

[01:16:25] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: If you agree, I should start from the beginning of your experience …. how you started as an artist in Second Life?

[01:17:33] Mikati Slade: i started to act as an artist since 2010 Burning Life (BURN2) festival in SL, with artwork “POP-ATOMIC” (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikati/5104432760/)

[01:19:15] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: are you an artist in RL as well? or u discovered your art here, as many artists in SL?

[01:19:21] Mikati Slade: i did not prefer art with this, but an Italian SL artist, Merlino Mayo, asked me to be an artist in Second Life

[01:20:06] Mikati Slade: i studied classical sculpture at art University, then i worked at commercial graphics field. I prefered to art but did not act as an artist in RL.

[01:21:04] Mikati Slade: i born in Tokyo , and I live in close to Tokyo, a city called Yokohama, for 20min from Tokyo, with train

[01:22:41] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: do you think that is important to use such a platform to develop artistic manufactures? or is it just a joke?

[01:23:20] Mikati Slade: you mean, if SL is important platform for art things?

[01:23:56] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: yes, if is really a new platfor for artistic expressions or just a game

[01:26:27] Mikati Slade: oh ok, i am thinking this is important for art, for example, this SIM “MiC (Museums of Rome Capital)” care Virtual World Art also, I respect the mind and I am thinking Virtual World will be inportant things for human civilization in the future more

[01:27:37] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: so you trust in a future evolution of virtual worlds, not only for artists, but as a real community, have I understood well?

[01:28:28] Mikati Slade: yes exactly

[01:28:59] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: is this the largest installation you ever made?

[01:30:54] Mikati Slade: yes this “KURU KURU WORLD” is my largest work and first one-man exhibiton. I had not expericence such huge scale so far, so i was really exciting the work and also i spent all of my energy, really creazy a lot of work I thought

[01:31:16] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: I see, how much time did you spent for make this installation?

[01:32:01] Mikati Slade: i spent all of my time for this , for one month

[01:32:12] Mikati Slade: full-time for one month

[01:32:25] Mikati Slade: almost 24 hours online in SL

[01:32:35] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: 24H a day? don’t you sleep?

[01:33:38] Mikati Slade: i slept, while online , i awake as much as possible, while sleep automatically, sorry for my english

[01:36:34] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: this effort of 24H on line is possible just for short periods, not for a long time, I think

[01:37:22] Mikati Slade: oh ok, yes i sleep 3hours, then awake 8hours, then sleep 3 hours…. for one month

[01:37:29] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: 🙂

[01:37:36] Mikati Slade: and SL is online during it

[01:37:48] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: speaking about the installation Mikati, what does it represent for you? what do you wish to communicate with it?

[01:39:55] Mikati Slade: i am from japan, and japan is very pop country, also less-connection with western art, I was thinking this is disadvantage for artist in Japan. but the pop can have value for western art as “pop-art” ,so I thought Japan pop can be great art

[01:41:06] Mikati Slade: this is my basic concept about my art

[01:41:32] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: and all people that has seen this opera is agree, I think

[01:42:09] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: I’d like to ask you some impressions for each step of the path, if you agree, in the installation

[01:42:34] Mikati Slade: ok!

[01:43:11] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: let’s go…

[01:43:22] Mikati Slade: ok

FIRST STEP

[01:43:38] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: a long tunnel

[01:43:41] Mikati Slade: yes

[01:43:42] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: first step

[01:43:49] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: colours and lights, what it represents?

[01:44:23] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: it seems the life path

[01:44:43] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: from the born to the adult phase … I imagine by myself

[01:46:15] Mikati Slade: oh it is intersting thinking, yes i designed the path to make people feel some drama or emotional impression

[01:46:43] Mikati Slade: physical impression is what i cared this time

[01:46:45] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: the colours are well joined I see …

[01:47:01] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: emotional….

[01:47:42] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: next step …

[01:47:45] Mikati Slade: ok

SECOND STEP

[01:47:58] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: here is the second tunnel

[01:48:08] Mikati Slade: these two areas are similar as you see

[01:48:14] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: yes

[01:48:26] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: what do you mean as difference? why two of them?

[01:49:35] Mikati Slade: these two areas shows “develop” of the world, big consume of energy, huge structure, it  makes feel big technologies

[01:50:11] Mikati Slade: first one looks like some space station, second area looks like nuclear power plant or something

[01:50:27] Mikati Slade: both shows symbol of technology developping

[01:50:49] Mikati Slade: this is part of “develop” of this exhibition

[01:51:14] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: the different steps are evolution of each one?

[01:51:32] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: every step start from the previous, as I understand …

[01:52:17] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: the first is the nature power….

[01:52:32] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: this second one is the human power on the matter…

[01:53:28] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: should it be a right vision?

[01:53:34] Mikati Slade: yes, i think it is very correct

[01:54:45] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: next step

[01:54:48] Mikati Slade: ok

THIRD STEP

[01:54:58] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: the third

[01:55:02] Mikati Slade: yes

[01:55:17] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: this is different

[01:55:28] Mikati Slade: yes the mood changed

[01:55:34] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: not a tunnel but a road, a large vision of the space

[01:56:30] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: what are these objects on the road what does they represent for you?

[01:56:59] Mikati Slade: this area talk about cause and process to destruction

[01:58:01] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: oh , the war?

[01:58:34] Mikati Slade: money exchange, taking resources, and begin the fihting and become bigger it. Low resources side try to buy things with money at the beginning

[01:59:17] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: the colours are more dark…..

[01:59:27] Mikati Slade: but if the side have no money, then it start to try take it with fighting

[01:59:50] Mikati Slade: then each other start to fighting and become bigger

[02:00:30] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: the human history….

[02:01:14] Mikati Slade: yes

[02:01:21] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: next step?

[02:01:30] Mikati Slade: ok

FOURTH STEP

[02:01:43] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: fourth step

[02:01:52] Mikati Slade: yes this is the moment of destruction

[02:01:53] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: fantastic explosion of colours, wonderful for the eyes

[02:02:13] Mikati Slade: yes colorful and despair

[02:02:50] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: why despair?

[02:02:55] Mikati Slade: the funny looks raise merciless of death

[02:03:35] Mikati Slade: because human used their advanced technology to make destruction finally

[02:03:45] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: in the back side … the end of the world …

[02:04:16] Mikati Slade: yes

[02:04:24] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: I can’t walk here, why?

[02:05:01] Mikati Slade: at this area, i did not want to put any friendly things

[02:05:40] Mikati Slade: to make feel despair

[02:05:49] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: I see death symbols

[02:06:10] Mikati Slade: and force people to just see the building

[02:06:17] Mikati Slade: yes

[02:06:35] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: fantastic Mikati

[02:06:44] Mikati Slade: thank you!

[02:06:51] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: next step …

[02:06:55] Mikati Slade: ok

FIFTH STEP

[02:07:10] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: the fifth step

[02:07:21] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: another hole …

[02:07:26] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: no colours

[02:07:32] Mikati Slade: yes we are in destruction part

[02:07:32] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: only black and white

[02:07:46] Mikati Slade: yes, nothing , after destruction

[02:07:46] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: let me understand please…

[02:08:03] Mikati Slade: all things are destroyed

[02:08:15] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: all destroyed parts…

[02:08:40] Mikati Slade: yes, everything of here try to make feel of death

[02:08:57] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: this installation shows a dramatic evolution path Mikati

[02:09:06] Mikati Slade: thank you very much

[02:09:23] Mikati Slade: the path already gone

[02:09:24] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: and is not an optimistic vision so far …

[02:09:35] Mikati Slade: yes true

[02:10:05] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: next step

[02:10:09] Mikati Slade: ok

SIXTH STEP

[02:10:18] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: the sixth…

[02:10:32] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: black and white again….

[02:10:39] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: what is this?

[02:10:57] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: I see a path….

[02:11:02] Mikati Slade: yes, we are looking at destruction parts still now

[02:11:09] Mikati Slade: but yes, there is a path we find

[02:11:26] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: please….

[02:11:38] Mikati Slade: the path comes again now

[02:11:39] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: let’s go on the path

[02:11:42] Mikati Slade: ok

[02:12:31] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: the end?

[02:12:48] Mikati Slade: yes, this area talk about reproduction

[02:12:49] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: here is your signature

[02:12:58] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: reprodution?

[02:13:00] Mikati Slade: rebirth

[02:13:02] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: what do you mean?

[02:13:28] Mikati Slade: this mean, new bud leale, comes and grow after any disaster and destruction

[02:13:33] Mikati Slade: strength of life

[02:13:41] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: right….

[02:13:51] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: is an optimistic ending …

[02:14:11] Mikati Slade: yes, but this exhbiiton named “kuru kuru world”

[02:14:20] Mikati Slade: “kuru kuru” mean rotating , cycling

[02:14:28] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: in Japanese?

[02:14:40] Mikati Slade: yes in Japanese sound expression in word

[02:14:57] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: so this is a human cycle….

[02:15:12] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: born, evolution, distruption and rebirth….

[02:15:37] Mikati Slade: yes and again , it repeat evolution, destruction, and re birth … again and again

[02:16:02] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: I see

[02:16:03] Mikati Slade: i do not say the repating is optimistic or despair both

[02:16:28] Mikati Slade: it depends how people think about it

[02:16:38] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: maybe humans replicate the universe evolution, in his own little world …

[02:16:47] Mikati Slade: yes

[02:16:57] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: from the big bang to the big crush … and so on, with another big bang

[02:17:23] Mikati Slade: yes

[02:17:29] Mikati Slade: life just repeat and cycle

[02:17:51] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: let’s go out …

THE END OF THE PATH

[02:18:09] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: all this is very interesting

[02:18:23] Mikati Slade: thank you very much Aquila

[02:18:27] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: now I’ve understood your installation better than I did by myself

[02:18:44] Mikati Slade: oh ok i am glad

[02:18:51] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: I thank you a lot  for your time Mikati

[02:19:09] Mikati Slade: thank you very much for spending your time for me too!

[02:19:59] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: bye for now

[02:20:08] Mikati Slade: see you Aquila!

[02:20:08] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: have a nice evening (for you)

[02:20:16] Mikati Slade: thank you! see you

[02:20:17] AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: see you