Q. Could you please briefly introduce yourself?

I'm "Rudyindahouse", a sneaker deconstruction artist who dismantles sneakers to create new objects.

Q. What prompted you to become a sneaker deconstruction artist?

I was interested in how the insides of the shoes looked, so I dismantled a pair. I thought other shoe lovers might be curious, too, so I presented it in an aesthetically pleasing way, which ended up how it looks now. After a few iterations, someone overseas picked it up, which made me famous all of a sudden. Then, an international magazine named me "Korean Sneaker Artist "Rudy In Da House," and that's how I became a sneaker artist.

Q. How many works have you dismantled so far? Is there any work you hesitated?

I've done roughly 200 to 300 works, and there hasn't been any work I hesitated to deconstruct. Even when I worked on the Nike Mag, a shoe worth 25 million won as it was featured in the movie "Back to the Future 2," I was thrilled to be provided and to take it apart.

Q. What was your most memorable work?

I would say they are the "Off-White x Air Jordan 1 Chicago" work that made me famous and the aforementioned Nike Mag project. I received a proposal for the Nike Mag from Nike's ad agency 'Industry' in the U.S. and worked on it in Portland. They only had one pair as a significant item, so it was incredibly meaningful that they wanted my creativity involved. It was like a dream, and I was treated very well.

Q. You showcase both deconstruction and combination in your works. What tools do you mainly use?

Ironically, I use simple tools like pliers, wire, glue guns, and tweezers. I display these tools at exhibitions to show this ordinary process. While others buy cool things like paint and brushes in art supply stores, it's interesting that I find joy in buying things like glue guns and wires. It also depends on who handles those tools, as it can significantly influence the outcome.

Q. How was working with Seven Eight Under?

People had high expectations for me to customize shoes to a quality level, but I was worried because Seven Eight Under's shoes weren't specifically suited for my work.

I initially wanted to infuse a liquid rubber material called 'Plasti Dip' into the shoes, but it made the shoes too heavy and seemed overly artistic. So, I created a surface where plastic flows down instead. I'm known for dismantling and reassembling shoes, so I took apart four different colors of canvas shoes from Seven Eight Under and combined them into a multi-colored piece.

Q. Could you tell us more about the 'Plastick Bandage' brand you run?

It literally means a 'bandage.' I wanted to create a brand that wasn't too light and gave a sense of weight, connecting it with fashion. Clothes are one of our most fundamental elements, much like bandages are when we get injured. It's hard to find a person who hasn't used a bandage when they are hurt. Also, when cartoon characters wear bandages, they look cool and strong, so that's when I thought bandages could be a cool item. It has some sort of a connection to fashion because it's covering wounds with bandages, just as we cover physical complexes with clothes. I want to keep developing this brand to give a feeling of healing, easy to wear, and comfortable.

Q. Any words of encouragement or advice for those who 'keep marching for their dreams'?

I came to Seoul because I wanted to be a dancer in middle school and then a rapper in high school. After that, I got into photography and video in the U.S., and then I suddenly started dismantling shoes and became a sneaker artist back in Korea. So, I want to tell people not to deny any interest or attraction you encounter, even if you're on a straightforward path toward your goal. Instead of feeling like you're deviating from the track, try it at least once if something seems fun since you might discover something you're genuinely good at, just like I did.

Q. Lastly, what do sneakers mean to you?

They're like rice. Not extraordinarily unique or significantly impactful, but indispensable like a staple food.