Koichi

Year of birth: 1981.
Where do you live: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Describe your art in three words: happy, colorful, motivational.
Website | Instagram

Can you tell us more about the creation of your character, Sumo Kō? How did you come up with the concept of combining sumo wrestling with ballet, and what does this juxtaposition represent for you?

Sumo Kō was born from my fascination with contrasts—how two seemingly opposite things can exist in harmony. Sumo wrestling is often associated with raw strength, discipline, and tradition, while ballet embodies grace, fluidity, and elegance. By merging the two, I wanted to challenge rigid perceptions of movement, body image, and identity. Sumo Kō is a celebration of duality—strength and softness, discipline and freedom, tradition and transformation. This character represents the idea that no one is confined to a single identity; we are all evolving, multifaceted beings.

Koichi | Sumo Kō

Your work often challenges traditional ideas of masculinity and femininity. How do you see your art contributing to the conversation about gender norms and body positivity?

Through Sumo Kō, I aim to dismantle the notion that certain forms, movements, or expressions are inherently “masculine” or “feminine.” In sumo culture, power is celebrated, but in ballet, control and grace are equally powerful. By blending these, I hope to redefine what strength looks like—beyond gendered expectations. My work embraces body positivity by portraying bodies that are full, dynamic, and expressive, showing that beauty isn’t about fitting a norm but about embracing one’s presence in the world.

In your series “Sumo Kō,” there’s a strong fusion of tradition and modernity. How do you balance these elements in your work, and what does this fusion represent?

I respect tradition, but I also believe that culture is fluid—it evolves with time and perspective. In my work, I take sumo wrestling, a highly traditional and ritualistic practice, and reimagine it within a modern, playful, and inclusive context. I use lenticular techniques, neon installations, and digital imaging to bring an ancient discipline into contemporary visual language. This fusion represents how we carry history with us, but we are not bound by it—we reinterpret and reshape it into something that speaks to today’s world.

Koichi | Spring dance

Your practice involves a wide range of media, from lenticular art and neon installations to sculpture and digital imagery. How do you decide which medium is most appropriate for each piece?

Each concept dictates its own form. If I want to capture movement and transformation, lenticular works are the perfect medium because they change with the viewer’s perspective. For something more tactile and playful, sculptures or art toys allow for physical interaction. Neon installations help me convey energy and presence, giving a sense of movement even in stillness. My process is about choosing the right language for each story—whether it’s light, motion, or materiality.

You’ve mentioned that your work invites viewers to see beauty in movement, imperfection, and diversity. How do you aim to communicate these concepts through your art?

I embrace distortion, transformation, and interaction in my work. Movement is embedded in the lenticular shifts, the way a sculpture captures dynamic motion, or how a toy figure expresses balance between power and play. Imperfection is something I celebrate—Sumo Kō is chubby, joyful, and unafraid, showing that self-expression isn’t about perfection but about confidence in one’s uniqueness. Diversity is key in my practice, from the themes I explore to the range of bodies and identities I represent.

Koichi | In the jungle

How does the theme of fluidity appear in your work, and what does it mean to you to explore identity and expression as something that is constantly changing?

Fluidity is at the core of my art. It’s reflected in the materials I use, like lenticular sheets that shift depending on where you stand, and in the themes I explore—blurring boundaries between masculinity and femininity, tradition and modernity, seriousness and play. To me, identity isn’t fixed; it evolves, just like movement in a dance or transformation in a sumo match. My work is an invitation to embrace the ever-changing nature of self-expression.

What role does playfulness and joy have in your artistic process? Do you find that these elements help break down barriers between the audience and the work itself?

Playfulness is essential. Art doesn’t have to be rigid or overly intellectual to be meaningful. Joy is a powerful form of resistance—it disrupts expectations, makes people feel comfortable, and invites them to engage rather than just observe. Through humor, whimsy, and bold visuals, I create work that is approachable yet layered with deeper meaning. When people smile at Sumo Kō, they’re already connecting with it, and that emotional response opens the door for them to explore the bigger themes within my art.

Koichi | Underwater