Art In Motion - with Chris "Mowgli" Miyashiro

Creative Natives HI
Jun 7, 2021
4 min read

#theCNP Ep. 003

Chris "Mowgli" Miyashiro

Artist/Filmmaker/Boardrider

The Creative Natives Podcast, Ep. 003

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reD7s3LD4z0

Honolulu, HI (CNHI) - Moanalua native Chris Miyashiro, also known as, "Mowgli" was born and raised on the southern shores of O'ahu, Hawai'i. The life of Mowgli is filled with creative endeavors such as painting, filmmaking, printmaking, designing, surfing, diving, skateboarding, and oceanic adventures. The purpose of Chris's work is the elevation of Aloha, creative expression, storytelling and the exploration of truth, beauty, and goodness.

I first met Mowgli at his premiere for "In Dancing Days of Dawn" at the Rocky Point Collective on the North Shore. I was playing live music with Noelani Love at the time and she introduced us to each other after we jammed an opening set. Chris's first film left the whole room in awe. After that night, we reconnected a few times here and there, but Iʻm stoked and excited to share with you a little conversation we had not too long ago.

"Chris draws inspiration from his travels, the jungle, the ocean lifestyle, and all other closeup marvels of life." -www.chrismiyashiro.com

Q: “What would be your favorite form of creative expression?”

A: “Aside from surfing and skating, It would probably be block carving. I really enjoy block carving; you get into some really crazy zones. It’s really fun because you just get a vision, you just keep chipping away at it and you don’t get to see it till you’re pau.”

Q: ”How do you break down the creative blocks that keep you from getting your inspiration?”

A: "I get those a lot, but honestly, I don’t really consider them blocks. It’s like those moments that you need to have, cause if you’re just going all the time, you’re going to burn out eventually. I feel like, sometimes, when I don’t feel like making something, it’s just as important, I'll take my brain away from it. I feel like after I give it that time, the creativity trickles back in naturally.”

Q: Are there any specific places you go to to get inspiration?

A: "Every new experience to me is an inspiration. Getting a brand new space, no preconceived notions; it’s a huge adventure getting to travel and go places, which is usually where my inspiration comes from. During covid especially, I really learned to appreciate the little things. It’s easy to find inspiration everywhere, everything’s so beautiful. There’s just movement everywhere, it’s pretty inspiring.”

Q: Hawaii is very unique as it brings in a bunch of different ethnicities. Growing up in Hawaii, not as a Hawaiian, but growing up in that local culture, how does that influence the style in your art?

A: "Growing up here, I wouldn’t consider my art Hawaiian at all. I think it’s a little more inclusive to that ‘cause a lot of my inspiration comes from oceanic cultures all over the world. The main thing is to just have a sense of place. To be a traveling person, a sense of place is just being in honor and reverence of your surroundings. I feel like the inspiration is a little bit of everything I've seen and heard in my life, not just Hawaii. Obviously, Hawaii is a huge part, it was the only culture I've been around in for as long as I’ve been here.”

Q: “New film coming out, it’s your second one. Tell us a little bit about it, when will it be released, where can we find it?”

A: Well, I’m showing it this weekend for the first time. By the time this is out, it’s probably long passed but it will be at Nimitz in the Cadillac GMC parking lot. I just did a mural over there, so I was fortunate enough to ask them if I could project my film on the wall and do a little showing. Grass root style, so hopefully, that will open up new doors of getting to show at places. It’s in the same category as my last film, so I'm pretty excited. Hopefully, not just surfers and artists can appreciate it, but anyone can find something inspiring in it.

Q: “The tours are going to have to wait, but you did go on that little tour with In Dancing Days of Dawn, how was that like?

A: "That was fun. I mean, I never tried to go on the tour, I’m just so blessed that people loved it. It got it’s way around in certain people’s emails and next thing you know, I got invited to all these film festivals. If it’s on someone’s path, it’ll get there.

Q: “How is it, especially with your time, having a spontaneous lifestyle? How do you manage your time as a freelance artist?”

A: “Yeah, it gets hard. My days are pretty packed, honestly. People think that I don’t have a real job and that I have all this free time, but I’m always hustling something. Whether it be getting a personal project done, or sometimes I work at the shop, or even at my friend’s shop. I have little jobs and I try to just cram all my extra time into creating stuff and doing my best to be a better businessman. I just jam.”

Q: “What would you consider a creative native? What does that term mean to you?”

A: "I think that “native” is such a tossed-around word. Everyone’s native to someplace. It all relates to our relationship and our responsibilities with the planet. If someone is able to use their creativity, their ideas, and their curiosity to create and inspire a community with more kindness and compassion and just love for our place on this earth and for each other, then I think they’re doing a pretty good job as a creative native. Anyone who is using their creativity for the betterment of the planet is doing a good job.”