Tokyo-based manicurist Moeko Nakamura admits she is obsessed with making art.
Perfect: When did you first realise that you wanted to work in nail design?
Moeko Nakamura: I have been working with nails for about 10 years. I made my first artwork in 2014 but back then it was very different from now, more pop and fancy.
Perfect: How would you describe your technique and styles?
Moeko Nakamura: I am obsessed with making art with my own hands. The work is simple but what determines a piece is whether it is beautiful or not. In my images, beauty and strangeness are mirrors and they must intersect and be kept together to be complete.
Perfect: What is your creative process when planning a nail design?
Moeko Nakamura: I basically make up designs and processes in my head and I rarely do any sketching of my work. I am a manicurist who usually does salon work as well. If you are a manicurist, you will understand that in a salon, you have to think about the art process in a hurry.
Perfect: Which are some of the most challenging designs you have created?
Moeko Nakamura: Changing the shape of the nail itself.
Perfect: What materials do you enjoy working with most? Which have you found most difficult?
Moeko Nakamura: I love polish and I use gel, acrylic and many other nail products. I think gel is the most difficult to use because the texture of gel changes when it is hardened.
Perfect: What would be a dream project to work on?
Moeko Nakamura: I would like to produce all the nail looks for a brand's show.
