The Japan C exhibit, open now in New York, celebrates the wonder and beauty in many Japanese store-bought items that may seem relatively ordinary on their own. Deftly arranged in the Fellissimo Design House, their collective beauty is brought to the fore, celebrating the fun and wonderment of much of Japanese consumer culture. This is all largely due to the efforts of Tobias Wong and Joseé LePage, the creative directors who helped to put together the exhibit.

Tobias Wong was gracious enough to take some time to answer a few questions for us while busy preparing a sushi roll in his Hello Kitty robe (pictured above.) Wong, a celebrated New York-based designer and graduate of Cooper Union, has had his work exhibited in places as diverse as Art Basel in Miami, Colette in Paris, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and even JFK Airport. Interview after the jump.

New York-Tokyo: What first drew you to art and design as a young man, and how did your time at Cooper Union and in NYC affect your growth as an artist?
Tobias Wong: Growing up in Vancouver Canada in the 70’s with hippie parents probably drew me to art and design. Besides tie dying tshirts and growing herbs, my mother did pottery and my father played in the basement darkroom printing black and white photographs he took. Studying at Cooper Union just refined my artistic genes.

NYT: Some of your recent work, including your installation at JFK airport, presents a biting commentary on modern habits of consumption and materialism. Tell me about a personal experience or phenomenon in culture that particularly inspired you to address this subject.
TW: My personal experience is not so different than everyone elses - we all like to consume. Who doesnt like to shop?!!! So I celebrate that desire within my work and add a little commentary to it once in a while.

NYT: Tell us your method of approach to developing the Japan C exhibit, and how did the opportunity come about?
TW: The concept to the exhibit was to recreate a similar experience you would find as if you were seeing the products in a retail environment. Hence, many of the products were displayed in multiples on shelves and with a variety from every company. Working with the townhouse was easy since the space itself was already so beautiful. All we did was clean it up a bit and the rest was all about merchandising.

NYT: How do you find the consumption cultures of Japan and the US relate to eachother?
TW: All in all, I believe both cultures share the same desire to shop and acquire. Only difference is that the Japanese have more of everything!!!! More selection!!! More shops!!! More quantity!!! More people!!! and More money!!!! LOL…

NYT: What do you consider a few of the most important pieces in the Japan C exhibition, ones that best evoke the theme of the showcase?
TW: Well, I think Hello Kitty in a kimono would be my favorite (or me in a Hello Kitty kimono). After all these years, she still hits a soft spot in everyone’s heart. You don’t have to be Japanese to understand that…

By NYT