Discovering Ikigai Through Art and Martial Arts: A Conversation with Baptiste Tavernier

Start with a vision, test it in the dojo, and forge it in a studio where code becomes sculpture. That’s the journey we explore with Tokyo-based French-Spanish artist and independent curator Baptiste Tavenir, whose life bridges Japanese martial arts, musicology, and 3D-printed fine art in ways that feel both unexpected and inevitable.

We talk about the leap that changed everything: leaving a Paris lab for Budo University and discovering that discipline, patience, and community dynamics aren’t just for the mat. Baptiste shares how years of training in tankendo, jukendo, and naginata sharpened his focus and taught him how groups actually work—lessons he carried into his creative practice. When tinnitus undermined his work with sound, he translated composition into space, building a unique visual language from Polaroids, carved plastics, and modular 3D-printed forms. He explains why plastic can be beautiful, how open-source culture shaped his “modules” collection, and why he set intentional limits to keep quality high while still inviting others to play.

We also confront the “made by a machine” objection to 3D printing. Baptiste unpacks the design decisions hidden inside CAD, the handwork that follows printing, and the broader history of tools in art—from cameras to presses—that mediate but don’t replace human intention. The thread running through everything is a grounded take on ikigai: the joy of making something uniquely yours, without compromising under pressure. His line lingers: fear is the enemy of ikigai.

If you’re curious about where craft meets code, how martial arts can rewire creative focus, and what it takes to defend a niche against doubt, this conversation will resonate. Listen, share it with a friend who loves art or Budo, and leave a review to tell us what fear you’re ready to face. Subscribe for more stories at the edge of art, technology, and purpose.