Artist Decoded by Yoshino

Yoshino Studios

"I started this series as a means for exploration, an exploration of self, and an exploration of the perspectives of other artists. This series is an unabridged documentation of conversations between artists. It's a series dedicated to breaking down the barriers we tend to set up in our own minds. I want to inspire future creatives to have the courage to explore and experiment. This is about making dreams a reality and not about letting our dreams fall to the wayside. My intention is to give my audience a sense of real human connection, something that feels rich and organic. When I was thinking of a title I thought of the word "movement". In relation to the Renaissance period in art, my goal for this program is to signify a rebirth of consciousness towards the way we look at contemporary art." - Yoshino (@yoshinostudios)

  1. DEC 3

    AD 283 | Aisha Schliessler | "Leaning Into Authenticity"

    Aisha Schliessler is a writer and director based in Los Angeles and London. A third-generation filmmaker, life behind the camera is in her blood. As a narrative director, Aisha is passionate about exploring the human psyche through a nuanced and stylistic lens. Her work emphasizes character and emotional storytelling, often infused with playfulness and irony. A love of architecture, fashion, and photography serves as a throughline in her work, as she strives to craft visually compelling worlds for her characters to inhabit. Drawing from her background in acting, Aisha brings a thoughtful, compassionate approach to working with talent and guiding performance. Her work spans a wide range of projects and has been featured on platforms such as Free The Work, Booooooom TV, Girls in Film, NoBudge, and Film Shortage. Her short film RHINESTONE BLUE, made in collaboration with Fujifilm, screened at several recognized festivals, including the Vail Film Festival, Beverly Hills Film Festival, and Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema. The film earned a Telly Award, a Cannes Corporate Media & TV Award, and multiple festival honors, including Best Short. Other notable projects include the short film THE CALL, starring Juno Temple, and most recently, the short documentary A GREAT LOVE, profiling the acclaimed equine sculptor, Charlie Langton. She is currently in development on her first feature film. Topics Discussed In This Episode: How Aisha got started directing films (00:03:09) Her film A Great Love (00:10:58) Being present in the journey (00:17:49) Aisha speaks about her process in filmmaking (00:24:15) Yoshino and Aisha speak about the process of acting and directing (00:32:26)  Exploring subjectivity in art (00:48:46) Leaning into one's authenticity (00:56:34) artistdecoded.com aishaschliessler.com instagram.com/aishaschliessler

    1h 5m
  2. AD 282 | Roy Dean | "A Constant Journey Into Mastery"

    NOV 18

    AD 282 | Roy Dean | "A Constant Journey Into Mastery"

    Roy Dean is a martial artist, filmmaker, and creative storyteller whose work bridges the worlds of combat and art. A black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Roy Harris, Roy is known for his elegant approach to movement, mastery, and self-expression. Through his films, writings, and instruction, he reveals the artistry within discipline—showing how the resistance of training can refine both technique and character. His latest projects continue to explore the intersection of creativity, philosophy, and the martial path. Topics Discussed In This Episode: Roy's origin story in martial arts and the philosophies that shaped him (00:03:23) Applying martial arts philosophy to everyday life (00:18:16) On letting go — acceptance, release, and personal evolution (00:34:38) Transforming stress into deeper empathy and expanded perspective (00:42:44) Men and masculinity — reflections on growth and identity (00:51:31) Mentorship — Roy on his teacher, Roy Harris (00:57:58) The duality of jiu jitsu: humbling yet deeply inspiring (01:06:05) The intersection of art and martial arts (01:11:38) Longevity in training — practical advice for recovery and staying in the game (01:18:44) Mastery and style — Roy speaks on mastery; Yoshino on artistic style (01:33:53) Refining fundamentals — patterns, basics, and the value of repetition (01:40:30) Value structures — understanding them and knowing when to transcend them (01:46:58) Embodiment and physicality in art (01:59:50) Roy Dean's upcoming jiu jitsu retreats (02:07:23) artistdecoded.com roydean.com youtube.com/@roydean instagram.com/roydean_

    2h 13m
  3. NOV 3

    AD 281 | Æmen Ededéen | "On Aletheia House and Nihil"

    Æmen Ededéen lived and worked in San Francisco and then Los Angeles for fifteen years before moving to Roswell, New Mexico in 2018 as a grant recipient of the year-long Roswell Artist in Residence Program. He and his wife, the artist Maja Ruznic, have since made New Mexico home and have recently welcomed their first child, a daughter, into the world. Hagler was born at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho in 1979 and is a first-generation college graduate with a visual communications degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson. Self-directed research and travel has underpinned Hagler's career and is essential to how the artist integrates creative influences with his life experience. 2018 saw two museum shows at the Brand Library and Art Center in Los Angeles and the Roswell Museum and Art Center in New Mexico entitled "The River Lethe" and "Love Letters to the Poorly Regarded" respectively. 2021 marks two solo exhibitions for Hagler with "Drawing in the Dark" at Cris Worley in Dallas and "The Living Circle Us" at Unit London, curated by David Anfam. He has exhibited paintings, sculpture, video, and animation in galleries and museums in North and South America, Europe, and Australia including a long list of solo exhibitions. Reviews and features about the work, as well as his own poems and essays, have appeared in a variety of publications and media outlets in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Topics Discussed In This Episode: Æmen on Aletheia House and the inception of the residency (00:03:05) Creating art beyond self-satisfaction; maturing through service to others (00:10:45) Engaging with life soulfully (00:16:41) The film, Being There (Peter Sellers). and aligning with a higher calling (00:21:00) Franz Kafka's The Hunger Artist (00:28:27) Æmen on his relationship with his wife, artist Maja Ruznic (00:36:03) On becoming (00:46:55) On Æmen new book, Nihil (00:52:26) Yoshino and Æmen discuss spirituality and religion (01:03:46) Exploring values; deepening consciousness and awareness (01:19:06) artistdecoded.com instagram.com/aemenededeen aletheia.house

    1h 27m
  4. JUL 9

    AD 278 | Ray Barbee

    Ray Barbee is an American skateboarder, musician, and photographer originally from San Jose, California. He started skateboarding in 1984, when he was in seventh grade, and has grown to become one of the most iconic skateboarders of his generation. His passion and do-it-yourself attitude, which distinguish him as a musician and as a skateboarder, also define his photography. He has been developing his own photos for the last sixteen years. Rarely without his Leica M6, Ray brings the same unique perspective to the art of black and white film photography that he has brought to skateboarding. His pictures manage to capture both the loud and soft sounds of life. They document explorations, discoveries and experiences, while casually speaking of his own life at the same time. Ray's seamless approach to capturing a moment while nurturing the image through the development process and bringing it to fruition in the darkroom make his photographs as humble and honest as the man behind the lens. He is also a recipient of the Transworld Skateboarding "LEGEND" Award and in 2020 was inducted into The Skateboard Hall of Fame. Topics Discussed In This Episode: How Yoshino and Ray both grew up in the Bay Area (00:02:36) Yoshino and Ray share stories about professional skateboarder Jerry Hsu (00:05:36) The origins of Ray's journey into the world of skateboarding (00:10:00) How skateboarding can transform your creative mindset 00:17:24) The art of trial and error (00:22:03) Ray's journey into becoming a musician (00:27:02) Naivety as a powerful tool, and how it has shifted due to advances in technology (00:31:06) Building resilience (00:38:09) "The gym of life" and building character through experience (00:43:39) How Ray's location influenced his skateboarding and opportunities (00:51:45) Ray's approach to photography (00:58:17) Ray's newest photography book: The Joy is in Capturing the Journey (01:10:03) Staying curious (01:20:56) artistdecoded.com instagram.com/r.barbee

    1h 27m
  5. APR 29

    AD 277 | Yulia Bas

    Yulia Bas's artwork explores the fragmentation of contemporary individuality, healing, and the body as a somatic memory tool. Across her paintings, sculptures, and installations, equilibrating between figuration and abstraction, Yulia employs unconventional materials to explore her perception of physical and mental thresholds, transitional states, and subjective wholeness. Guided by her personal journey of transformation through body therapy and meditation as well as her immigrant background, Yulia's work embodies her experience of multiplicity of self. She searches for ways to show the tension that comes from the necessity of coexisting with different identity faucets, real, digital, and imagined ones. Topics Discussed In This Episode: Yulia and Yoshino discuss creative struggles (00:03:05) How Yulia got her start in the arts (00:06:57) The importance of micro and macro decisions in life (00:10:15) Structuring and creating order, and knowing when to break out of it (00:15:02) Negative stereotypes of being an artist (00:17:44) Allowing vulnerabilities to inform us, and tapping back into a childlike mindset (00:24:53) Questioning what art is and expressing oneself honestly (00:37:05)  Taking time for rest and contemplation, and trying not to overwork the process (00:43:11)  Yulia talks about her painting process (00:49:28) Yulia speaks about experimentation and stepping into performance art (01:05:13) Yoshino speaks about studying martial arts and observing false narratives around masculinity and femininity (01:11:47)  Advice Yulia would give to her younger self (01:36:57) artistdecoded.com yuliabas.com instagram.com/yulia__bas

    1h 41m
  6. APR 18

    AD 276 | Saman Kesh

    Iranian-American director and writer Saman Kesh has the most Vimeo staff picks, ever. He attributes this accolade to excessive consumption of rocket fuel and a knack for combining the human experience with a healthy dose of controlled chaos. Saman gained recognition with popular music videos like Cinnamon Chasers: Luv Deluxe (which won 'Best Video' at SXSW), Kygo: Stole The Show and Basement Jaxx: Never Say Never, along with videos for Calvin Harris, Ed Sheeran, and Placebo. He has also directed award-winning commercials for major brands like Zoom, Google, Uber, Toyota and Nintendo. Saman has written and directed industry-hailed short films, CONTROLLER and HIT TV, and is currently developing several feature films. On his off hours, he plays video games and trolls racists. Topics Discussed In This Episode: Yoshino and Saman catching up (00:02:14) Imbuing authenticity into commercial creations (00:05:54) Saman speaks about his experience shooting the "Azizam" music video for Ed Sheeran (00:20:38) Saman reflects on 15 years in the film and commercial industry (00:29:43) Saman discusses dealing with triggering moments on set, and how he has learned to comport himself appropriately in those situations (00:39:04) Yoshino asks about romantic relationships and finding a shared rhythm with a partner (00:43:44) Knowing how to make the most truthful decisions for our lives (00:49:56) Getting out of analysis paralysis (00:56:24) Saman reflects on how his past self might perceive who he is today (00:59:00) artistdecoded.com samankesh.com instagram.com/saman_kesh

    1h 8m
4.8
out of 5
199 Ratings

About

"I started this series as a means for exploration, an exploration of self, and an exploration of the perspectives of other artists. This series is an unabridged documentation of conversations between artists. It's a series dedicated to breaking down the barriers we tend to set up in our own minds. I want to inspire future creatives to have the courage to explore and experiment. This is about making dreams a reality and not about letting our dreams fall to the wayside. My intention is to give my audience a sense of real human connection, something that feels rich and organic. When I was thinking of a title I thought of the word "movement". In relation to the Renaissance period in art, my goal for this program is to signify a rebirth of consciousness towards the way we look at contemporary art." - Yoshino (@yoshinostudios)

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