Tuesday 10th of September 6 PM. It's day and time settled for Kinu Sekigushi's interview. on the spot, I'm still asking myself thousand questions about this weird man. No photo in press, neither on his website. How does he look like, how old is him ? A few minutes later curtain is up but secret will go on, on the word of Aarluk.

HI KINU
Hi Aarluk,

FIRST THING THAT AARLUK'S WEB SURFERS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW: WHY TOO MUCH SECRET AROUND KINU SEKIGUSHI ?
Well, simply for protecting myself. I don't wanna be pushy, being recognized in the street. I prefer showing my drawing, it's normal, because it's my own work, but showing myself is secondary. More, I wish remaining anonymous.

KINU SEKIGUSHI: WHY A NICKNAME ? IN RELATION TO DRAWING OR ANY OTHER SPECIFIC REASON ?
Obviously, it's relative to my drawing style. I wanted to stuck to my drawing style. On the one hand, it was more credible, but especially, I would remained anonymous and then I would preserved my own private life.

WE KNEW YOU ON AARLUK SITE THANKS TO ORCAS DRAWING AND SUBAQUATIC WORLD. IS IT DUE TO YOUR DIVING PASSION ?
Absolutely, since long time, I had this dream to practise diving and since I did it, I'm trying to dive most often as possible and it will go on again for long time ( laught ). If there's so much drawing about this universe, it's because it's where I'm feeling well, where I could feel like home, where I'm feeling comfortable and where I like moving around. It's a challenge I'm appreciating.

WHY ORCAS AND SHARKS INSTEAD OF DOLPHINS OR FISHES ?
Orcas and sharks are kind of amazing animals, who are attractive as much as they could be scarry. When I'm diving I dread to meet them, but in one hand, I've got a big desire to see them and swim near them. But as soon as I am under sea, I forgot my fears and my dread. Orca is the most beautiful animal. He's gorgeous and one of my big dream would be to dive among orcas. Most certainly, diving with orcas is less easy than doing it with a skate or a turtle (laught ), but I wish to realize that dream differently as on paper sheet...

WE WISH IT FOR YOU

Thanks.

ON YOUR DRAWING, WE COULD NOTICE 2 DIFFERENT WORLDS: SUBAQUATIC WORLD AND GAY WORLD. LAST ONE IS GOING TO OVERTOP THE FIRST ONE, IS IT WANTED OR NOT ?
It's not especially deliberated. If it was only from me, I would not make only this kind of drawing style ( gay one ), but it's true that, most of time, those drawings have been made in the aim of realizing book covers, posters, or recently for Cd covers. It's for corresponding to any audience wishes as well, who are real. For me, I'm always trying to do what I want, and comic strip universe I'm planning will be about subaquatic world. It will come back strongly because I don’t think being able to do more about gay drawing.

A COMIC STRIP WILL COME OUT ? YOU EVER TALKED ABOUT SUBAQUATIC COMICS WITH SHARK.
Yes, I'm still working on. It will take time because some other projects are coming out for me and I want to carry them out like Milano exhibition. Realizing a haute couture bag ( about angels ) for cedric Julien trademark, was one of them. For me launching myself into this adventure was pretty fascinating. It's obvious that when interesting and diversified projects are coming out, I don't want to reject them. I've got a big desire to become involve in it. So, comic strip is coming... but slowly. i'm working on.

HAVE YOU GOT ANY SPECIAL THEME THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT DURING FEW NEXT MONTHS ?
About drawing, Paris exhibition is already heralding what I will make in the future, such as originals you could see here. Sure, I will come back later to subaquatic universe, staging animals like orcas and/or sharks...

WE ALL SAW YOUR ORIGINALS AND THEN GUESS WHAT WAS THE TECHNICAL USED. BUT ABOUT COLORED DRAWING, WHAT'S THE TECHNICAL USED: TRADITIONAL OR DIGITAL ( INFOGRAPHY ) ?
In fact, I'm using both of them. First, there's an original, ink working is following and then superimposed on the original. Color working is made by hand on the back. When the last-mentionned items are painted, they are superimposed at the scenery, this one also painted by hand. In fact, it's about animation movie's technical. My work is derived from this technical but just making one picture ( instead of 24 per second ), I can make more details. I love animation movie. Afterward, coloring process is traditionaly made by brush but could be realized by digital process according to desired result or timing. The most important, is final work quality. Computer is still an usual tool, we can't evoid it, simply just using it wittingly.

SO, NO ALL DIGITAL WORKING ?
No, there's always basical hand working. Computer is just dedicated to color working. I think, personal side of originals must be kept.

HOW COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT AARLUK'S WEB SURFERS AREN'T VERY OFFENDED ABOUT SOME GAY SIDE PICTURES ( SOME OF THEM ARE PRETTY YOUNG ) ?
I'm already thought about, but offending is not my goal. There's a line I don't wanna cross. This limit is matching with website pictures or all that you can see here during exhibition.I don't wanna go further because it doesn't corresponding to myself. If people aren't offending, it's because they are probably broad-minded or because they are feeling such a kind of sensuality without any vulgarity.

APPARENTLY, EXHIBITION IS GOING WELL, TOO MANY SALES IN JUST A FEW DAYS.
Yes, exhibition is going well. Drawings are very appreciated. That makes me happy.

WILL ORIGINALS GO ON IN THE FUTURE ?
Yes it's necessary because it's my basic working. First all my colored drawings are originals. I'm considering that a completed picture musn't be fondamentaly colored. Why not, I like going beyond cellulo coloring phase, and find such a classical wealth in other styles.

FINALY, MANY PEOPLE ARE WONDERING HOW MANY TIME ARE NEEDED TO MAKE A COLORED WORKING LIKE THE ONE ABOUT ORCA AND DIVING MAN.
It takes many many time, because I'm such a perfecting man and I use to take my time when creating. By itself, drawing scenery you could see on Aarluk website, is about 55 working hours. In addition, many times are allowed for character's making. On the contrary, and because they are smaller, some drawings are less time-consuming. But some of them need weeks of working.

YOU'RE WORKING WITH MANY FORMATS. ACTUALLY, YOU SEEMED TO BE WORKING ON SMALLER ONES. IS IT WANTED OR NOT ?
No, in fact, for originals I'm more comfortable with small formats. On the other hand, for colored working, I prefer bigger formats. For that, I use to make an elargement before color working. The ones dedicated to copy are reduced and then are rid of imperfections. I wish to make a result as perfect as possible.

THANKS A LOT KINU, FOR MAKING THIS INTERVIEW POSSIBLE.
You're welcome, it's my pleasure.

Tape recorder is turned off. Yet, I'm curious, and still asking some questions. It's the same from Kinu, about Marineland. With Fred, Kinu's webmaster, we're discussing about anything. Then, he's telling me about some website changes in the future ( looking, naming ). the site will be called OCEAN, even if access domain is still the same. ( www.kinu-sekigushi.com ). We're realizing that we're chatting since 1h30. This very nice meeting with Kinu and Fred will make me able to associate the person with a name, and to have another look about Kinu's drawings.

If you would like to learn more about Kinu...
Come on and meet him during his next exhibitions.

See you later.