Nail Artist Mei Kawajiri on Dreaming up a Kawaii Fantasy at Sukeban
“Nails tell a story, too.”
Sukeban, the Japanese female wrestling league, is bringing kawaii glamour to Art Basel Miami. Nail artist Mei Kawajiri was tasked with executing a plethora of nail looks, all of which were in line with her signature cutesy aesthetic and Sukeban’s visual storytelling. At the wrestling matches, nail art extends beyond just being a beauty detail — it’s a way to further shape the distinct characters and entire world Sukeban has built.
When conceptualizing the nail looks, Kawajiri had a clear vision for each character. Having worked with the wresting league previously in LA and NYC, the nail artist says that the blend of wrestling, entertainment and art that Sukeban has become known for makes the creative process that much more exciting. Beyond that, Kawajiri finds that Sukeban and its founder Olympia Le-Tan have a way of uniting artists in order to bring its vision to life.
Ahead, we speak to Mei Kawajiri about dreaming up nail art for Sukeban and merging her kawaii aesthetic with the wrestling league’s maximalist fantasy.
On Working With Olympia Le-Tan
Olympia Le-Tan let me know she was working on a new project with Sukeban and of course I wanted to join her. She’s created some amazing teams among different artists to bring this all to life. I have always been a big fan of everything Olympia is involved in.
On Her Usual Style Versus Her Work With Sukeban
My usual aesthetic for nails [is] much longer. But for Sukeban, I am making the shortest nails I’ve ever made. I love the challenge of doing things in a miniature way but still having big impact.
On the Inspiration Behind the Nail Looks
I have worked with Sukeban on their events in LA and NY before — it’s always so much fun. I’ve gotten to know each character more and can better envision what their nails [would] look like. Each is so unique and individual. Nails tell a story too.
On the Durability of the Nails
I used very strong nail glue and [they] never came off! But honesty even if they did, [it's] still cool because that means they are fighting hard.
On the Unexpected Combo of Wrestling and Nail Art
Sukeban wrestling is a fantasy, which is exactly how the nails I create are. I love that my aesthetic of cute Japanese style fits perfectly in this world.
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