What a treat, on my recent return to L.A. I pooped in and had coffee and pineapple cake with Susan Hancock owner of the art space and cafe RoyalT. 

Q: Why the Japanese theme for Royal/T ?

I originally started collecting international art, then I began collecting contemporary Japanese art based on anime for my nieces when my sister told me I couldn’t buy them any more toys for their room. After buying Murakami and Nara Yoshitomo, I started developing a sensibility for Japanese art until all of a sudden, half of my collection was Japanese.

 Murakami and the ladies of Royal/T

Q: More important who made this cake ?

Our Japanese chef.  Her name is Nobuko Naganuma.  You should try our cheesecake, our cupcakes and our high tea which is our specialty.

 Beth Campbell and Murakami

Q : When did you first start collecting?

In April of 1999, I went on a trip to New York City with the Orlando Museum to buy art for the Museum.

Q: Do you remember the first piece you purchased ?

Of course, it was a group of 12 drawings by Amy Sillman that I bought when I was on that trip and we visited her studio.  She didn’t even have a gallery at the time. I framed the drawings and put them on my stairs and every time I passed them I fell more and more in love with them. That was the beginning of my collecting art.

 Richard Prince

Q : Do you still have that piece ?

Yes, all 12 are hanging in my condo here in Marina Del Rey, California. My ex-husband knew how important they were to me. They were in our home in Florida and he took the Florida Beach House, I took the NYC condo-and we each decided to keep the art that was installed in each home except for those 12 pieces. I took everything that was in storage so I got art and he got our cash.  I made sure I got those in the divorce settlement.  They were very sentimental.

Tara Mcpherson "Hello Kitty" 

Q:  How does art impact our world ?

I just know for me, it heals my soul.  It’s how you separate humans from animals.  I think I read a quote recently (I think it was Einstein) that imagination is more important than knowledge.  Art comes from our imagination and expands our imagination.

 Luke Chueh "Hello Kitty"

Q: How did RoyalT come to be ?

I loved to entertain in my NYC condo and share my art passion with other people, cater in food and serve drinks.  However, the people that I was sharing my passion with were often museum groups or collectors so I was “singing to the choir.”  I wanted to share my art with people who normally didn’t live with art and didn’t have the opportunity to have lunch or dinner sitting amongst collectable art. I wanted to share it with people who were intimidated by going to museums or galleries.  And then I went to Japan to see Nara's “A to Z” show and was inspired by his installation that had the gallery/cafe and a gift shop all together.

Jason Mercier "Hello Kitty" 

Q: Do you entertain at home ?

All the time!  In fact, this weekend I’ll have 8 people staying with me, family and friends who will be coming for the opening of the Hello Kitty show.  I always have a lot of out of town guests who love to come to visit Southern California. On the 4th of July I had one of the best views for fireworks looking out on the Marina.  I had a fun party.  I live in a condo on the 17th floor with killer views.

Q: Is collecting a passion or a burden at times?95% of the time it's a passion.  The burden comes in the paperwork, insuring, storing and all the care taking of it.  My Nara Dog was in my back yard in Winter Park Florid. I lived on a chain of lakes and some kids came and kidnapped it and took it to an island where they got high and lost their virginity, it was called “Dog Island.”  When the police made the report, they said that finding where it belonged was the easy part, but finding who took it was the hard part.  So after that I had to put a “leash” on it to make sure that it didn’t become the weekly high school/college prank of “take the dog to Dog Island.”  I would have thought it was funny if it hadn’t been my piece of art.  One of my friends suggested I donate the dog to Dog Island. I said that when he donated his Chihuly Chandelier I would donate my dog.

 Buff Monster " Hello Kitty"

Q: Tell me about your upcoming Hello Kitty show ?

Here is the press release from Sanrio: “Three Apples is a multi-dimensional exhibition and celebration of all things Hello Kitty running from October 23 to November 15. The celebration, a gift for Hello Kitty fans of all ages, will take place at Los Angeles’ famed Royal/T art space and gallery (www.royal-t.org), a visually stunning and playful Japanese-inspired art exhibition space, retail store and café, located within Culver City’s vibrant arts community.”

 Natalia Fabia "Hello Kitty"

Q: How long will the work be on show? Oct 23-Nov 16th. It's going to be wild.  Hello Kitty will have her apt in our front window.  There will be artifacts that have never been outside of Japan and 80 artists have artworks for sale by Sanrio all featuring Hello Kitty.  She is turning 8 for the 35th time.  They will have a Hello Kitty Pop Up Store selling everything from Kitty massagers to $4,000 Jewelry by Kimora Lee Simmons.  We'll be serving a special Hello Kitty menu in our café.

 Gary Baseman "Hello Kitty"

Q: Why do you think people love Hello Kitty ?

The fans don't just love her, they are OBSESSED with her.  It’s a very interesting story unlike Mickey Mouse, it was a character drawn 35 years ago with no story around it.  She was just a drawing 35 years ago and now it’s a billion dollar industry with 65,000 licensees. Our phone is ringing off the hook with people flying in from Mexico and groups of 20 or 40 people saying that they want reservations.  We’ve decided we’re not taking reservations this time because we don’t know how to accommodate such large requests.

 Ron English "Hello Kitty"

Q: Who designed your art space and Cafe ?

I was very lucky to be introduced to 'Why Architecture' and it was very serendipitous that they are in Culver City and have worked with 4 or 5 museums.  Kulapat Yantrasast just recently won the prestigious Silpathorn Award from the Government of Thailand, studied under Punta Della Dogana architect, Tadao Ondo, at the University of Tokyo.

Q: Do you paint ?

No no no, I think that’s why I appreciate other people who are so talented and so artistic.  I got an MBA and am totally not artistic, although this is my second business I’ve created from nothing. My previous co. Hancock information sold to business Barry Diller's interactive grew to 350 employees after 17 years and was sold to a division of Barry Diller, Interactive Software. Just like Royal/T I was able to create a business although I’m not artistic I am able to appreciate art and creative people.

 Dave Muller

Q: Would you have art classes in RoyalT ?

That's a great idea.  We're going to have something really interesting coming up with our next show called "In Bed Together", running from Nov. 20th – Jan 31st. We are going to have a program for inner city children that will allow them to make art.  We also have a coloring book coming out and we’re going to have contests for children to create their own story for one of our next coloring books.  So we will encourage young artists in the future. 

 Hideaki Kawashima

Q: Do you get time to browse galleries when traveling?

Running a restaurant is more work than I ever imagined so I don't get out much.  The only time I travel is when I'm going to one of the art shows so I travel around the art shows and then I do go to galleries.

Q: Favorite Museum ?

Fondation Beyeler in Basel, Switzerland. Long ago, the mayor of Basel declared that Basel should be known for its museums, and now they have over 30 different museums in this small town.  The Fondation Beyeler is on the outskirts of the city in a beautiful setting and they always have great shows.  Sam Keller is the director there and was the director of Art Basel for many years.

Nara  

Q: Do you think the art market is elitist ?

I think the reason that it’s probably elitist is because people with money can afford contemporary art.  More and more people are looking at other things as contemporary art, and that’s where Andy Warhol started and where Murakami took up the banner, saying that you can own something that’s a Louis Vuitton handbag that’s just as much a piece of Murakami art as it is a handbag.  That’s what I try to show at Royal/T and that’s what was so great about the Kaws show, to show collectables bought off of ebay in the same space with a great Kaws painting from a great gallery like Perriton in Paris. Those collectables are pieces of art and as more people are able to buy art this way, art will become less elitist.

 Wilhelm Sasnal

Q: Where are you from ?

Originally from the Midwest. I lived in Florida for many years and recently I moved to Los Angeles from New York City. 

Q: Greatest joy ?

My 5 nieces.  They are 6, 7, 10, 18, and 19.  Unfortunately none of them live close by but I’m flying three of them in for the Hello Kitty show and we go on vacation numerous times a year together. I share my love of art with them and they teach me things and teach them things, they’re darling so they are my greatest joy.

 Susan Hancock in RoyalT

Q: Biggest fear ?

When I was growing up my uncle told me that the ultimate sin in life was to be boring. So my biggest fear is that I’ll be boring or I’ll end up with someone boring.

Q: Favorite deceased artist ?

Being a lover of Pop Culture I'd have to say Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtestein.

Q: Favorite living artist you don't have a piece by ?

Jeff Koons and Maurizio Cattelan. 

Q: Do you see a the difference between L A and NY art scene ?

In NY there are some  artists  that are "stars".  In LA, the "stars" are the Movie Stars, so the artists are all much more down to earth. So even the Superstar artists are much more accessible.

 Dave Muller

Q: If your place was on fire or earthquake what would be the one thing you would take from the building ?

I’d probably be spinning around trying to decide what to grab, because to support Royal/T I sold a piece of art last year, and three pieces of art this year, and every time I’ve sold a piece of art, I’ve always felt like “Oh no! That was my favorite painting..”  I always have more seller’s remorse than buyer’s remorse so I’d probably go down with the house trying to decide what to take.

Q: Last ,what kind of experience would you like people to have in your space ?

I want them to feel like they have "Fallen down the rabbit hole", be inspired and come out in a much better mood than they came in with. That's what many people say so I want everyone to share that same experience.

Thank you Susan for taking the time to show us around and doing this candid and personal interview. Best Richard Scarry and The Chipster

 RoyalT