Meet Jeffrey Sugishita: Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeffrey Sugishita and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeffrey, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I think the path to pursuing a creative career wasn’t by choice, but rather an inevitability for me. The act of creation for me can be best explained as an involuntary reaction to existing, much like the way I breathe. I started drawing and sculpting before I was able to read or write. I wasn’t taught or recommended by anyone to draw or sculpt- the urge to create manifested within me when I was three years old and I haven’t stopped making things since then. I never had the desire to make “art” or be an “artist”, as I hadn’t even perceived those concepts when I started creating (and I’m still figuring out what they are exactly). I believe the act of creating for me is a form of processing my existence within this universe, as I intake data of the physical world through my senses (like inhaling), formulate them into subjective experience that fuels my soul (like how oxygen fuels my body), and output my experience into a physical form (like exhaling). It’s uncertain where this innate desire for creation will direct me and my career in the future, but I probably won’t be able to stop myself from making things so long as I live.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
From a young age I had intimate experiences within nature, as I was frequently taken to various natural locations such as the Sequoia forests, Joshua Tree National park, Death Valley National Park, Catalina Island, and the Big Bear Mountains. The experiences I had in these natural environments stimulated my senses and supplemented my innate desire for creation and observation with a rich source of information to be inspired from. What started off as a means to express my experiences rapidly turned into a passion and a core part of what shapes my identity. Constantly experimenting with new formats of expression, I utilize a variety of conventional mediums and found materials, such as paper, wood and mechanical parts, to create both two-dimensional and three-dimensional works that embody a reflection of the world from a perspective of being a human individual. My works therefore often revolve around the pairing of physical materials with the reminiscence of the human figure, which becomes a direct or indirect self-portrait. The pursuit for expressive creation encouraged me to continue my discipline as a form of profession. My goal is for my creativity to be utilized in not one specific field, but in any field given the opportunity.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting I would take them out to various locations where we can indulge ourselves with outdoor activity. I would take my friend out to the beaches in Malibu all the way down to Rancho Palos Verdes, where we can swim, kayak, and explore marine wildlife. After having fun at the beaches, I would take my friend to venture out into the Santa Monica Mountains where there are plenty of natural attractions. The mountains houses massive boulders that are great for rock climbing, as well as small creeks that are perfect for swimming in hot weather. We would have lunch that I prepared at home atop a mountain that oversees the forest, and call it a day after watching the sun set and the stars begin to shine. I find indulging myself in nature and exploring the wilderness to be without a doubt the most fun, interesting, and exciting thing to do. Experiencing nature in its raw entirety is what I believe to be the very thing that fuels my soul, and it has given me experience, insights, and values which I cannot obtain elsewhere. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate my shoutout to those who have bestowed upon me the opportunity for new experiences. That includes friends, mentors, and most of all my mother who remained supportive of my creative endeavors despite having a lot of her possessions being broken along the way, and my father who frequently took me out to play in nature where I had my most treasured experiences.

Website: sugiworks.com

Instagram: @sugiworks

Image Credits
Jeffrey Sugishita