mason kodera

Mason Kodera, born in 1994 in Shizuoka Prefecture, is an accomplished artist, graphic designer, and product designer known for his strong conceptualization and visualization skills.

Early Life and Education:
From a young age, Mason's artistic sensibilities were shaped by his elder brother's diverse collection of toys and games, as well as his mother, a former fashion designer. His passion for drawing, nurtured by these early influences, became a defining characteristic during his school years. As a middle school student, he was profoundly impacted by the anime "Cowboy Bebop," which inspired him to pursue an education in the arts. Upon entering high school, Mason promptly began attending a local art prep school where he studied drawing and color composition, eventually leading to his enrollment at Tama Art University. There, he discovered a deep interest in design and began working as a freelance graphic designer while still a student.

Career Development:
After graduating from university, Mason aspired to make a name for himself on the global stage and moved to New York City. While studying English, he had the opportunity to train under a renowned art director he had long admired. In 2020, he pursued further education by enrolling in the MFA Communications Design program at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where he researched the philosophy of eroticism and its application to visual language.

Current Activities:
Following his graduation, Mason began taking on commissioned work as a 3D artist and started his own creative projects. His unique philosophy of eroticism serves as the foundation for his art, aiming to liberate people from feelings of loneliness. Mason Kodera's work continues to captivate audiences with its profound philosophical background and innovative visual impact.

Concept

  • An inherent issue in the structure of human beings is loneliness. Each human exists as an individual, and this fundamental disconnection of existence gives rise to loneliness.

    Conversely, it can be said that self-transcendence is the state that humans should aim for. Self-transcendence refers to the act of an individual going beyond oneself to connect with others, society, and the broader universe. This means building deep relationships with others, moving beyond the self-centered existence of an individual.

  • The mission of Mason Kodera is to engage participants' everyday experiences and identities through product-like experiential erotic art, fostering the discovery of their true selves beyond societal conventions.

  • Humanity has developed through the use of tools. We use and create tools, becoming beings that far exceed our natural capabilities. In fact, one could define humans as creatures that use tools. Just as it is fundamental for birds to gather twigs to build nests, using tools is intrinsic to human behavior.

    Tools give humans roles and extend the self. For example, a pianist cannot exist without a piano, and a driver might feel more assertive because they have gained a steel body. Individual identities are shaped by tools, and by using them, people extend themselves.

    Mason Kodera approaches the human self through products used as an art form. Eroticism is an experience. Therefore, it is not the art to be merely observed but the products that people own, use, and that approach the self that are the art to be pursued now.

past work

BBC Tokyo Olympics 2020 Trailer
- 2D Graphics

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - Kimiga iine kuretara
- Logo Design
- 2D Graphics

Yuzu - Kimi Wo Omou
- Logo Design
- Illustrations

Atarashii Gakko - The Edge
- 3D Art
- Graphic Design

Education

Tama Art University BFA Information Design 2017 (Tokyo, Japan)
Pratt Institute MFA Communications Design 2022 (Brooklyn, New York)