To celebrate the 90th anniversary of Mickey Mouse's screen debut, Disney's art exhibition "Mickey: The True Original Exhibition" was held in New York from November last year to February this year. The venue showcased numerous Mickey Mouse-themed works, including paintings and sculptures by various artists, and a life-size replica of his debut work, "Steamboat Willie," all contributing to the anniversary celebration.

The curator of the exhibition was Darren Romanelli, the designer of the remake fashion brand "DRx Romanelli," also known as the only artist Nike has granted permission to remake its products. In collaboration with MEDICOM TOY, with whom he has worked for many years, he created and exhibited a 3000% size Mickey BE@RBRICK using vintage clothing. We conducted an email interview with Darren Romanelli to delve into his personal thoughts on Mickey Mouse and his impressions of MEDICOM TOY.

—First, could you tell us how you came to be selected as the curator for the Mickey Mouse 90th Anniversary Exhibition?

When I was young, I founded an agency called "STREETVIRUS," and over the past 20 years, I've built a relationship with Disney through numerous exciting projects. In 2003, I was fortunate enough to be chosen for the 75th-anniversary promotion of Mickey Mouse's birth, and for the 90th anniversary exhibition, they decided we were the right team. As we had more meetings for this project, it became increasingly stimulating for both myself and STREETVIRUS.

—What were your thoughts upon being chosen as curator?

For me, collaborating with Mickey Mouse is the pinnacle of brand collaborations. And engaging with Mickey Mouse's long history is a great honor. I was honored to be asked to handle the contemporary storytelling through my participation in "Mickey: The True Original Exhibition." This project allowed me to fully utilize my greatest strength for the first time: the ability to consolidate various creative roles into a single opportunity. Therefore, this project will always be special to me.

—What personal memories stand out regarding your past experiences with Mickey Mouse?

Like most Californians, my first memory is visiting Disneyland with my family as a child. Disneyland was less than an hour from my home, and I vividly remember searching for Mickey and Minnie with my siblings. So, it was only natural that one of my first creations was a Mickey Mouse bomber jacket.

That jacket was made from my own bedsheets, repurposed into a reversible piece, and it was my debut work at the Parisian select shop Colette. At the suggestion of Sarah, who was the creative director at Colette at the time, I handmade a label with band-aids and placed a Polaroid photo inside the jacket, so that those who acquired it could see the work before I modified it as a display. Thus, this Mickey bomber jacket is a very important piece in the history of DRx Romanelli.

—What sentiment is conveyed by "The True Original," which is also the title of the exhibition?

Ninety years ago, a young artist named Walt Disney created an image of a mouse that would inspire the entire world, using just paper and pencil. Disney understood that art is the ultimate global language. The exhibition I curated proves that Mickey Mouse is a global icon, a legacy, and a celebration. Mickey is the true original, possessing a magical power that has brought strong credibility and creativity to the world for 90 years.

—The exhibition in New York featured works by artists such as Daniel Arsham and Kenny Scharf, and Keiichi Tanaami from Japan. What criteria did you use when commissioning new works for the exhibition?

I collaborated with 23 wonderful artists from diverse backgrounds. I selected artists who are passionate about reinventing pop culture icons in contemporary art, and those who have established their original styles and are recognized as "TRUE ORIGINALS."

—Among the exhibited works was a BE@RBRICK that you yourself created. It was designed with the evolution of Mickey Mouse over the past 90 years across its entire body. Could you tell us about the theme of this piece and why you chose to use BE@RBRICK?

I've been working with MEDICOM TOY for about 10 years, and during that time, they've produced many Mickey Mouse BE@RBRICKs. They are all over my office, and I see them every day. Since I love BE@RBRICKs and vintage fashion, it was only natural to combine the things I love. The 3000% Mickey BE@RBRICK I exhibited this time was made by selecting my favorite pieces from 200 vintage Mickey Mouse t-shirts and sweatshirts.

—What do you think about Mickey Mouse's influence on pop culture?

Mickey Mouse is one of the most recognizable characters in the world. Possibly number one. No matter how it's edited or reconstructed, it can be recognized by its shape and color. Its influence as an icon can even be described as spiritual. Seeing Mickey brings happiness and a sense of optimistic American culture. It's no exaggeration to say that modern licensing and hybrid collaborations began with Mickey Mouse.

—Mickey Mouse is very popular with children, but what image do adults in America have of him?

Today, adults of all ages have a personal relationship with Mickey. Mickey has continued to evolve over 90 years, organically changing his appearance to reflect the pop culture trends of each era. Mickey has been present at historical events for every generation. While his depiction has changed, everyone cherishes their childhood image of Mickey.

To be continued in Part 2