AD 282 | Roy Dean | “A Constant Journey Into Mastery”
Artist Decoded by Yoshino
Roy Dean is a martial artist, filmmaker, and creative storyteller whose work bridges the worlds of combat and art. A black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Roy Harris, Roy is known for his elegant approach to movement, mastery, and self-expression. Through his films, writings, and instruction, he reveals the artistry within discipline—showing how the resistance of training can refine both technique and character. His latest projects continue to explore the intersection of creativity, philosophy, and the martial path. Topics Discussed In This Episode: Roy’s origin story in martial arts...
info_outline
AD 281 | Æmen Ededéen | "On Aletheia House and Nihil"
Artist Decoded by Yoshino
Æmen Ededéen lived and worked in San Francisco and then Los Angeles for fifteen years before moving to Roswell, New Mexico in 2018 as a grant recipient of the year-long Roswell Artist in Residence Program. He and his wife, the artist Maja Ruznic, have since made New Mexico home and have recently welcomed their first child, a daughter, into the world. Hagler was born at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho in 1979 and is a first-generation college graduate with a visual communications degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson. Self-directed research and travel has underpinned...
info_outline
AD 280 | Manuel Mathieu | "Bury Your Masters"
Artist Decoded by Yoshino
Manuel Mathieu (b. 1986) is a multi-disciplinary artist, working with painting, ceramics and installation. His work investigates themes of historical violence, erasure and cultural approaches to physicality, nature and spiritual legacy. Mathieu’s interests are partially informed from his upbringing in Haiti, and his experience emigrating to Montréal at the age of 19. Freely operating in between and borrowing from numerous historical influences and traditions, Mathieu aims to find meaning through a spiritual or asemic mode of apparition. Mathieu has developed a distinctive abstract visual...
info_outline
AD 279 | Daniel Segrove | “Following The Truest Path”
Artist Decoded by Yoshino
"I am a 34-year-old artist living and working in San Francisco, California. My work focuses on my perspective on life, identity, and empathy. I paint and draw people who are close to me, or if they have a story I can relate too. My style consists of meticulous studies of anatomy and form, as well as pieces that explore a more emotional and expressive theme. I have shown in galleries both across the United States and internationally." - Daniel Segrove Topics Discussed In This Episode: Segrove and Yoshino talk about modern technology and how it affects artists (00:02:26) Living peacefully and...
info_outline
AD 278 | Ray Barbee
Artist Decoded by Yoshino
Ray Barbee is an American skateboarder, musician, and photographer originally from San Jose, California. He started skateboarding in 1984, when he was in seventh grade, and has grown to become one of the most iconic skateboarders of his generation. His passion and do-it-yourself attitude, which distinguish him as a musician and as a skateboarder, also define his photography. He has been developing his own photos for the last sixteen years. Rarely without his Leica M6, Ray brings the same unique perspective to the art of black and white film photography that he has brought to skateboarding....
info_outline
AD 277 | Yulia Bas
Artist Decoded by Yoshino
Yulia Bas’s artwork explores the fragmentation of contemporary individuality, healing, and the body as a somatic memory tool. Across her paintings, sculptures, and installations, equilibrating between figuration and abstraction, Yulia employs unconventional materials to explore her perception of physical and mental thresholds, transitional states, and subjective wholeness. Guided by her personal journey of transformation through body therapy and meditation as well as her immigrant background, Yulia's work embodies her experience of multiplicity of self. She searches for ways to show the...
info_outline
AD 276 | Saman Kesh
Artist Decoded by Yoshino
Iranian-American director and writer Saman Kesh has the most Vimeo staff picks, ever. He attributes this accolade to excessive consumption of rocket fuel and a knack for combining the human experience with a healthy dose of controlled chaos. Saman gained recognition with popular music videos like Cinnamon Chasers: Luv Deluxe (which won ‘Best Video’ at SXSW), Kygo: Stole The Show and Basement Jaxx: Never Say Never, along with videos for Calvin Harris, Ed Sheeran, and Placebo. He has also directed award-winning commercials for major brands like Zoom, Google, Uber, Toyota and Nintendo. Saman...
info_outline
AD 275 | Tomas Watson
Artist Decoded by Yoshino
Tomas Watson (b.1971) is a British artist who has lived and worked in Greece since 1994. He studied at the Slade School of Art in London. In 1998, he won the BP Portrait Award and was subsequently commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery to paint the author John Fowles. This portrait is in their permanent collection. He is represented by the Jill George Gallery in London () and Accesso Galleria in Tuscany () Topics Discussed In This Episode: Tomas recounts where his artistic journey began (00:02:11) The importance of mentorship (00:07:46) Tomas's experiences at Slade...
info_outline
AD 274 | Pasqual Gutierrez and Ben Mullinkosson
Artist Decoded by Yoshino
Pasqual Gutierrez is a writer, director and actor. Sundance 2025 Comedy “Serious People” was his debut into feature filmmaking alongside veteran documentary filmmaker Ben Mullinkosson who co-wrote and directed. Gutierrez is also 1/2 of music video directing duo CLIQUA who has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry including The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Rosalia, Madonna, and more. Gutierrez is developing his second feature, a sequel to Serious People. Ben Mullinkosson was raised in the suburbs of Chicago and trained in directing at Chapman University. After graduating Ben...
info_outline
AD 273 | Shuchi Talati
Artist Decoded by Yoshino
Shuchi Talati is a filmmaker from India whose work challenges dominant narratives around gender, sexuality, and South Asian identity. Her feature film, Girls Will Be Girls, premiered at Sundance where it won an Audience Award and a Special Jury Award. Shuchi was a Gotham Awards Breakthrough Director nominee and a John Cassavetes Award nominee at the Spirit Awards. During development, Girls was supported by the Aide Aux Cinémas du Monde and Sørfond grants, Gotham Week, Berlinale Project Market and Script Station, and Cine Qua Non Script Lab. Shuchi’s short film, A Period Piece, was...
info_outlineTim Bettinson is a 27-year-old singer-songwriter and producer most recognized for creating and living behind the lustful, ambient guise of Vancouver Sleep Clinic. Across his catalogue, elements of anthemic indie rock, intimate R&B, and sophisticated folk provide a sweeping film soundtrack for Bettinson’s gentle vocal and expansive storytelling. Emerging from his native Brisbane, Australia on the strength of a series of singles including “Someone To Stay," “Middle of Nowhere," “The Wire,” and the bedroom-produced viral cover of “As It Was," Tim now roams the world with a laptop and headphones in pursuit of adventure and creative inspiration for his ever-evolving project.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Leaving Los Angeles (00:12:19)
- How Tim and Yoshino originally met (00:14:04)
- Lesson’s Tim has learned throughout his journey in music and the industry (00:17:31)
- The feeling of making music (00:23:34)
- Yoshino’s journey into martial arts and photography (00:26:47)
- The first song Tim released on Soundcloud called “Vapour” (00:30:19)
- Tim’s decision to start singing and using falsetto (00:35:22)
- Natural talents vs. achieving abilities through hard work (00:40:39)
- Anxiety and self-imposed pressure (00:52:25)
- Advanced technologies (00:57:45)
- Finding balance and joy within the creative process (01:04:06)
- Dealing with anxiety, self-doubt, and negative thoughts (01:09:36)
- Navigating feedback and trusting your instincts (01:18:38)
- Defining one’s purpose (01:25:16)
- Finding perspective on past work (01:30:49)
- People who inspire Tim and Yoshino (01:36:57)
artistdecoded.com
vancouversleepclinic.org
instagram.com/vancouversleepclinic