André Saraiva, a graffiti artist based in Paris known for collaborations with numerous brands such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton, has also made his mark as a hotelier and restaurateur. The signature character "Mr. A" he created is now an art piece beloved by people worldwide.

To commemorate the release of "BLUE," a new color of "VCD ANDRE BALL W SIZE," an art toy rendition of "Mr. A," at MEDICOM TOY at RESTIR and other select stores, we present his latest interview alongside an introduction to his career to date.

Born in Sweden and raised in Paris, André Saraiva first gained international recognition for his graffiti. His urban artworks, created under the concept that "the cityscape should be filled with love, not defaced," have been exhibited in museums and contemporary art galleries worldwide. In 2016, a monument featuring a tiled wall was erected in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.

His alter ego, "Mr. A," always brings smiles to passersby with his comical, winking expression.

Since the 1990s, he has established a solid presence in Parisian nightlife as an entrepreneur, planning parties and designing clubs. In the early 2000s, he commuted between France and New York, becoming a partner or founder of hotels and ventures, all of which he views as part of his art projects.

In 2010, he became a creative consultant and advisor to hotelier André Balasz, overseeing the design and curation of the popular New York rooftop bar "Le Bain." He has also co-developed a hotel and restaurant in upstate New York. In 2015, he opened "Café Henrie," a 24-hour café and art project space on Manhattan's Lower East Side, which buzzed with exhibitions of friends' artwork and fashion brand parties.

In 2018, he opened "Miramar," a restaurant and hotel in a small fishing village outside Lisbon, operating only from July to September. This summer retreat offers dishes made with local organic vegetables and fresh fish delivered directly from fishing boats.

André continues his artistic endeavors worldwide, integrating his work with the local culture and nature of each place. We eagerly anticipate what new pleasures he will offer next.

—First, could you share your thoughts on the current pandemic? Has it impacted your artistic activities?

As a global citizen, I believe this is one of the greatest challenges we have ever faced. The pandemic raises questions about borders and our place in the world. To avoid suffering, we should draw closer to each other emotionally and become more intimate, rather than isolating ourselves. If we all join hands, we can surely welcome a brighter future.
As for my own creative work, I have essentially always worked alone, so there hasn't been much change as an artist.

—Your graffiti is widely known in Japan as well. How did the "Mr. A" tag come about?

When I first started doing graffiti, I used to write my name, André's signature. While letters themselves are wonderful, I realized that a character could be understood by anyone in the world.

"Mr. A" first appeared on the walls of Paris in the late 80s and has been my "partner" ever since. I then took him around the world, and he came to Japan in the late 90s. Japan has a rich sensibility for graphics and sketches, and Mr. A was quickly embraced as their own. Thirty years have passed, and Mr. A remains my best friend.

While collaborations with companies and brands, and my own activities, are all distinct, the essence of Mr. A remains unchanged. Graffiti is pop art crafted with soul, and it can be produced across multiple media. For example, on walls, trains, freight cars, canvases, T-shirts... anything that has a form.

—Your relationship with MEDICOM TOY dates back to the BE@RBRICK released in 2005. What impression do you have of the company?

MEDICOM TOY was one of the first companies to collaborate with various artists to create toys, and working with them has always been a wonderful experience. I feel like they are family now, so I collaborate whenever possible. To me, they are like art editors, making art more accessible to everyone.

—Regarding the "VCD ANDRE BALL W SIZE BLUE," following the pink and black versions, what meaning does the new blue color hold?

Pink is a very important color in my art, but blue is perhaps the color I use most frequently after that. That's why the third version is blue.

—To begin with, how did the original "VCD ANDRE SARAIVA MR. A BALL" (approx. 135mm in height), released in 2018, come into being?

Mr. A's head is always round. Twenty years ago, I decided to create a spherical sculpture of his head, like a planet (2 meters in diameter). That's how his round head came into being in three dimensions. Later, MEDICOM TOY contacted me, and we collaborated to produce a smaller BALL that would be more accessible for everyone to purchase.

—Do you have any future projects in mind with MEDICOM TOY?

There are many joint projects I'd like to do with MEDICOM TOY. Perhaps the next one might be a different version of the BALL, made from an eco-friendly material instead of plastic!

—Finally, could you tell us about any projects you currently have in progress?

I am working on a book with a New York publisher called Rizzoli, which will compile most of my projects from the past 30 years. In this book, I take a comprehensive look at the projects I've undertaken, considering each as a chapter in my journey, but this is still a work in progress, and this journey seems far from over!

VCD ANDRE BALL W SIZE BLUE
Original Sculptor｜PERFECT-STUDIO
Size｜Approx. 280mm in height
Price｜¥22,000 (excluding tax)
Release Date｜Scheduled for release in February 2021
Retailers｜MEDICOM TOY at RESTIR, and other select stores
ANDRE ©