Tomihiro Kono

Occupation Head Prop Artist

Location Tokyo, Japan

Tomihiro Kono is a hair, head prop, and wig artist based in Tokyo, Japan. Inspired by traditional Japanese art, hairstyles, anime, nature, pop, and punk rock; Tomihiro’s bespoke hand-crafted hair pieces use hair as a means of visual transformation and self-discovery. He’s worked and collaborated with people such as Bjork, Junya Watanabe, Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Dazed, and I-D Magazine – and co-runs an artist run platform entitled konomad with artist Sayaka Maruyama.

Website

Instagram

Asparagus

										Director

										Suzan Pitt

										Year

										1979

										Genre

										Animated Short

										Duration

										20m

An animated short that plays with perceptions through visually mesmerizing reflections on complex social issues like female sexuality, identity, and art.

Review

Trailer

V:
What film has had the most impact on your practice, and how has it directly influenced your work?

TK:
The first film that comes to mind is Asparagus, by Susan Pitt. I am obsessed with the colors and esthetic of this film.

Edward Scissorhands

										Director

										Tim Burton

										Year

										1990

										Genre

										 Fantasy, Romance

										Duration

										1h 45m

Edward, a recluse with scissors for hands, is introduced to the outside world by a suburban saleswoman. Things go awry when he is blamed for a crime he did not commit.

Review

Trailer

20th Century Fox

V:
Your practice focuses on the use of hair to create and alter one’s identity, what’s one character that has influenced the way you approach head prop and wig making?

TK:
It would be Tim Burton’s character Edward Scissorhands – I love Scissorhands so much, it’s one of the best films for character.

Mr. Vampire

										Director

										Ricky Lau

										Year

										1985

										Genre

										Comedy, Drama

										Duration

										1h 36m

A taoist priest and his two disciples hunt down a town elder turned blood-thirsty vampire, in order to stop his trail of terror.

Review

Trailer

Bo Ho Film Company Ltd.

V:
You approach hair prop and wig making in a similar manner to costuming in film, what is your earliest memory of visually impactful costumes in a film?

TK:
My earliest memories are of 1980’s Hollywood films like The Goonies, Mr. Vampire, and Child’s Play. These films still impact me to this day, I love them all.