From digital artists to photographers, body sculptors and hair stylists to make-up and nail artists, in our Highlight series, we profile the creatives tearing up the rulebook of their respective industries.

You will have seen them on social media. Perfectly formed parts of the body, floating, detached from their usual fleshy context, that are then revealed to be odd, on a regular basis items. An anatomically precise jaw complete with teeth and stubble opening up and having coins inserted into it, a severed finger unveiled as a stamp, a nose-shaped shot glass.  

It’s uncanny. Absolutely the mundanity of the objects transformed by this fleshy coat, features eerily separated from the remainder of the face and torso, the boundaries between the human body and technology collapsing, becoming ever more blurry.

These human flesh items come courtesy of the madman brain of Japanese music producer and DJ Doooo. Doooo first ventured into body art for his debut album PANIC when, inspired by horror and science-fiction movies, he made a human flesh MPC for the record’s cover. From there he went deeper into the concept, expanding into appendages, fuelled by his fascination with the body. “I need to inform everyone that the human body is basically interesting,” he tells us. “If the nose could possibly be removed, it might be a shot glass, right? Should you look closely, it’s such an interesting shape!”

Here we chat to Doooo about his work, inspirations, and inventive process. 

Do you remember the primary time you were conscious of your appearance?

Doooo: Yes, I remember. The kids screamed on the train platform. So for the primary time, I began being conscious of my appearance.

Growing up, what informed your understanding of beauty and identity and the best way you presented yourself visually?

Doooo: In Japan, I used to be influenced by manga artists Junji Ito, Hideshi Hino, Shintaro Kago, and ukiyo-e artist Kuniyoshi Utagawa. I also love the work of Chris Kanningham and HR Giger.

Why are you an artist? 

Doooo: The people I discovered cool were artists, so I desired to be like that too. I need to be someone who impresses someone.

How would you describe your work and what you do?

Doooo: DJ and music producer. My human flesh items were born within the means of making music. The human flesh items have also appeared in my music videos and created my character. But recently, I’m often introduced as ‘Mad Scientist’.

When did you begin creating the flesh objects?

Doooo: I began making human flesh items after my first album PANIC, which was released in November 2017. The human flesh MPC used for the quilt of this album was inspired by The Fly (1987). I assumed it might be fun to mix fly and human.

The human flesh items were my idea and design after which my partner’s Amazing studio JUR forms them. Additionally they run schools, where anyone can learn special moulding techniques. 

Why do you’re thinking that people had such strong reactions to them?

Doooo: It’s because people thought my work was crazy. I’m glad to have such a response.

What’s it about bodies that interests you?

Doooo: The human body is basically interesting. For instance, after I take a look at the nose by itself, I’m wondering why it became like this. I need to inform everyone that the human body is basically interesting. 

Are you able to tell us a bit about your creative process?

Doooo: My ideas come from on a regular basis life. For instance, when shopping, I believe it might be interesting if the coin purse was a human part. It’s funny that a coin purse eats coins, so I have the desire to make it a mouth shape. After that, I put the design on paper and work with my partner on the small print to finish the ultimate image.

Is beauty something you are attempting to capture in your work or something that you simply reject? What’s your relationship to ‘beauty’?

Doooo: My work wouldn’t be complete without ‘beauty.’ If it was a human flesh item without ‘beauty,’ I do not think many individuals would enjoy it. The fusion of the concept of creating every day necessities into the human body and the elaborately created appearance of the items is gorgeous.

How do you’re thinking that our understanding of the human body has shifted with the evolution of technology?

Doooo: The looks of a small camera that may shoot the inside the body and an excellent slow camera makes it possible to see the human body. Everyone seems to be involved in health and beauty, but perhaps not a lot in regards to the human body itself, so I believe everyone can get a variety of inspiration from such technological advances. That is incredible.

Do you’re thinking that technology and the human body will proceed to be merged together?

Doooo: I believe so. As great technology is developed, something useful and interesting for the human body might be developed. Medical and sweetness are good examples of things which are familiar and useful to everyone. 

What are you currently working on?

Doooo: I’m working on the subsequent human flesh art and the subsequent album. What makes human meat art is a secret, sorry. Please look ahead to the subsequent one.