Hana Kuwai

In 1998, he founded BAD LAND, a custom store specializing in Harley-Davidson motorcycles, in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. Since then, he has devoted himself to the production of custom Harleys completely by hand, and has spent almost all of his time since the start of the business in a series of operations related to sheet metal working, metal modeling, and final surface treatment, which require a high degree of difficulty and a sense of fineness down to 1 mm or less. In the meantime, he has acquired more specialized knowledge through many technical trainings and studies related to metal modeling in general. He also pursued and developed new industrial materials, and also opened his eyes to the field of cutting-edge final surface treatment using a variety of paints with special functions.

The original design and modeling that emerged from the emotional feelings that were the starting point of custom Harley production has always been the basic concept of BAD LAND, and it has never wavered. In 2023, the field of creation was surpassed and became an art brand [ UNDULATION ]. Based on a number of unique alchemical techniques backed by industrial-level metalworking skills cultivated in the field of custom manufacturing, the brand pursues radical and emotional expression with passion.

What is UNDULATION?

Harley Davidson...

When I was still a young man, I was in love with Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The explosive torque of Harley's Big Twin 1200cc engine, which boasts a displacement of 600cc on one side of its two cylinders, was truly mesmerizing, and I was sure that if I opened the throttle on that seat, I would be free from the daily chores, ties, and hesitations of everyday life. I was sure that I would be able to experience the meaning and feeling of the word "freedom," which is often used to describe Harleys.

However, when we started riding with the Harley, we were intoxicated by the strong pulse of the engine that seemed to be rising from the bottom of our stomachs, as we had expected. On the road, where time and distance only increased, and amidst the sound of the violent wind, I would always be riding, confronting myself and repeating the questions I asked myself, but I could never find the answers I wanted.

And the sound of the wind...

I could have had one of my speakers ready to play background music, but the only sound in my studio is always the sound of the wind. All I hear is the sound of compressed air produced by the compressor needed to operate the spray gun, and the even, low-frequency sound of the air being blown by the huge forced dryer. From early morning to late at night, I am basically alone in my studio, and this is no different from the situation in which I was riding a Harley and staring at my shadow amidst the sound of the wind. In this case, however, the object of my self-questioning has already been expressed by my own hands, and it is always sitting in front of me as a work in the process of production with a concrete expression.

I am now at an age that is appropriate for the end of my life, and I have finally chosen to express in a tangible form the mental phenomena and events that have existed permanently in my mind. I am not at all moved by the thought that I should have made up my mind earlier, but rather, I believe that I would not have been able to reach this point in my life if I had not reached this age.

The questions I was asking myself on the seat became a concrete event in 1998 when BAD LAND, a custom store specializing in Harley-Davidson motorcycles, came to dominate my daily life. As a total dreamer who suddenly ventured out into the ocean of practicality, there were many times when I almost died in terms of business. While learning the significance and importance of being bound by the complexities of human relationships and the social systems of my native Japan, I have learned how to approach various situations effectively and realistically, and sometimes how to avoid difficult situations. I have learned to express myself in a concrete and realistic manner.

The word "art" as an extreme theory.

I believe that this is an inappropriate word for me to use. However, there is no mistaking the fact that I believe that the fundamental things of art always originate from human emotions, mental images, and above all, passion.

In the first place, it is impossible to randomly remove the surface of a work that has been painted over a long period of time without being driven by a passion. Therefore, most of my works, when first seen, have been commented that they are "really intense expressions. However, if you notice the various colors and their shimmering behind the undulating, turbulent lines carved into the work, your initial impressions will be very different. Some people say it is an expression of warmth, receptiveness, and tenderness, while others say it is an expression of sorrow, hesitation, or impermanence...

I look at my own shadow, the unchanging image of me that still exists with the sound of the wind. I realized that the answer I had been searching for on the seat of the Harley was, in fact, to express that image of myself as it really is, in my own way.

Hana Kuwai

In 1998, Hana Kuwai founded BAD LAND, a custom store specialising in Harley-Davidson motorcycles, in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. Since then, he has devoted himself to the production of custom Harleys completely by hand, requiring metal modelling and working with industrial materials with extreme

In 2023 the artist used the emotions and feelings that were the starting point of custom Harley In 2023 the artist used the emotions and feelings that were the starting point of custom Harley production to develop this into artistic creations [ UNDULATION ]. Based on unique alchemical techniques backed by industrial-level metalworking skills cultivated in the field of custom manufacturing, the brand Based on unique alchemical techniques backed by industrial-level metalworking skills cultivated in the field of custom manufacturing, the brand pursues radical and emotional expression with passion.