Singaporean digital artist GUWEIZ returned to Japan after about five months. In this interview, we asked him to share his journey from his creative origins to how he established his current artistic style. He had drawn inspiration from Japanese landscapes — including the streets of Tokyo and Meiji Shrine — which influenced him during his last solo exhibition, the GAAAT show in Harajuku. A passionate admirer of pop culture, like “The Lord of the Rings” and “Berserk”, he began drawing secretly with a pencil during his student days in Singapore, which became the foundation of his career today. This interview delves into his aesthetics and philosophy in which he is always driven by curiosity and embraces creative roadblocks as an essential part of the artistic process.
GUWEIZ’s Identity
B- It’s been about five months since your last visit to Japan. Have you come up with any new creative ideas since then?
GUWEIZ- The GAAAT solo exhibition in Harajuku was a truly inspiring experience. I usually interact with fans online, but there, I could really feel their enthusiasm in person. It not only gave me new ideas but also fueled my passion for creation and reminded me how much I owe to my fans. I’m genuinely excited to keep creating and sharing more artworks with everyone in the future.
B- What usually inspires your artwork?
GUWEIZ- Beautiful things—things I personally find beautiful. For example, cityscapes inspire me, as do medieval and modern fashion designs. Pop culture and other artists also influence me, and I gained a lot of inspiration in Tokyo. I visited Meiji Shrine, which was amazing.
Tokyo has a unique atmosphere in its architecture. In Singapore, buildings tend to have uniform designs. But in Tokyo, the cityscape has a controlled chaos, with buildings arranged differently from my hometown, which I found the contrast really captivating.
B- What kinds of pop culture have you been exposed to?
GUWEIZ- I’ve had broad interests in many things in a good way. I’ve enjoyed a wide range of works, from Hollywood movies to Japanese anime, and I like noticing the subtle differences between each work—such as the grand scale of Hollywood films compared to the intricate details of manga.
B- Among them, do you have any favorite movies, games, or manga?
GUWEIZ- I love The Lord of the Rings series. It has spectacular scripts and direction, but it also portrays dark scenes masterfully. Even in darkness, there’s always a glimmer of light, which I try to incorporate into my works. I also enjoy FromSoftware’s games and a manga called Berserk, which I still reread.
B- Have you been influenced by other artists?
GUWEIZ- Of course. But I try to understand why they chose certain expressions rather than simply imitating them. It’s fascinating to see how artists influence each other while finding their own ways to express themselves. Sometimes, it even motivates me to push myself further. That kind of stimulation makes me want to keep challenging myself.
Jumping-off point as an Artist
B- What was the turning point that made you decide to pursue art? Or what made you become an artist?
GUWEIZ- Singapore is a very study-oriented country. When I was around middle school age, I struggled with math and had poor grades. On top of that, my parents didn’t allow me to play games at home. During that time, I casually picked up a pencil and started drawing. Since my family didn’t notice, I just kept doing it. It gradually became one of my few sources of enjoyment. That shift—from gaming to drawing—ultimately led me to become an artist.
B- What was your process of developing your current artistic style?
GUWEIZ- I started by imitating works from artists I admired and something I liked. At first, my drawings were terrible because I lacked the skills. But as I kept drawing, I began experimenting—thinking about how to improve each time. I started with small portraits of characters and gradually incorporated backgrounds and additional elements. Over time, I expanded my perspective, making new discoveries along the way and deepened my curiosity. This constant curiosity helped broaden my artistic range.
As I gained experience, I became more efficient with my workflow, time management, and artistic expression. When a piece doesn’t turn out as expected, I use my past experiences to adjust my approach and refine it gradually. This natural process is something I deeply value.
B- Why did you choose digital art over physical art?
GUWEIZ- I was attracted to the accessibility of digital art. Works using pencil or pen don’t always look well when they’re scanned. Of course, there are artists who excel in traditional art, but that wasn’t me. Since I didn’t have an artistic background, I would have needed my parents to buy me supplies. But then I realized I could start with a second-hand tablet. That’s why I chose digital art.
Even now, I use the same tablet model from back then. People sometimes ask why I don’t upgrade to a better one, but I’m used to it and comfortable with it. For beginners, digital art is very approachable. It’s not expensive, and it doesn’t take up much space. That practicality drew me in.
B- Do you have any artworks that left a strong impression on you? And could you tell me why?
GUWEIZ- One of my most memorable pieces is Ash, which I exhibited at Hanada Art. To me, it was a perfect piece. Other artists might see room for improvement, but for me, that piece was complete.
B- Have you ever struggled during the creative process?
GUWEIZ- Of course. I probably go through about 15 cycles of sketching, reworking, and revising a single piece. But I believe these struggles are important. Hitting a creative block means I’m thinking deeply about the artwork. If I were drawing mindlessly, I wouldn’t produce good work. I believe creating art is an experience about learning how to navigate and resolve these obstacles. It’s through this repetitive process that I developed my own artistic style.
In the next part of the interview, we’ll dive deeper into GUWEIZ’s latest works, future aspirations, and explore MCA’s artistic expression.
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