Press Release 1

PRESS RELEASE
KOHEI NAWA ‒ SYNTHESIS
Exhibition Outline
A solo exhibition presenting the work of Kohei NAWA (1975-), who develops sculpture and
spatial expressions utilizing the concept of the ‘Cell’ . NAWA uses fluid matrials and media,
such as beads, prisms, expanded polyurethane, silicone oil, etc., as metaphors for the senses
and thoughts of the information society, creating equivocal expressions of the reality of the body,
perception, and a sensitivity that wavers between digital and analog. In addition to his work in
various categories, such as BEADS/PRISM/LIQUID/GLUE/SCUM/DRAWING etc., also he is active
and recognized internationally, collaborating with people in the fields of music, fashion and
product design, as well as producing public art in team project. This exhibition will explore the
origins and boundaries of NAWA's synthetic interface; the interface which connects the senses
and the material, our “skin” , while simultaneously pondering approaches to future work.
Highlights of the
Exhibition
The First Major Exhibition at a Public Institution
While NAWA was studying sculpture at Kyoto City University of Arts he also spent some time at the
Royal College of Art in the UK before receiving a PhD. for his doctoral dissertation on ‘Aesthetics and
Surface Skin - a Methodology in Contemporary Sculpture’ in 2003. Even early in his university career
he was active both at home and abroad, participating in numerous exhibitions and winning various
awards. He is now recognized as one of the Japan’ s leading young artists and we are delighted to be
able to hold a long-awaited major exhibition of his work.
Presenting an Overview of his Various Categories of Work
This exhibition is the first to present a comprehensive view of all the various categories of work NAWA
has produced to date.
BEADS: In this series stuffed animals, etc., which were purchased on the Internet, are covered with
transparent beads to create what he describes as ‘PixCell’ .
PRISM: The concept of a ‘Cell’ as a vessel of the image is expressed through the form of box covered in a
prism sheet that splits the light, causing the object that should exist within it to appear as a virtual image
according to the angle at which it is viewed.
LIQUID: Bubbles appear and vanish on the surface of white, fluorescent, silicone oil, expressing the
countless ‘cells’ that are produced to stimulate sight and touch.
GLUE: A painting/sculpture, created on the wall using a glue gun that grows like ‘ivy.
SCUM: A surface created of expanded polyurethane produces PixCell bubbles like ‘scum, representing
the blunted swelling of our senses.
OTHER WORKS: Among his other varied experiments presented here is ‘Dot-Movie, a video-installation
work in which spots of paint have been dropped, one by one, to create a dot pattern in which their
mechanical alignment struggles against the analog fluctuations resulting from the manual process.
This exhibition will also present a painting entitled ‘Drawing’ and other new experiments.
Display Design Incorporating Space, Light and Movement
A large number of works, ranging from the small to the large, will be displayed in a dynamic
manner in the Exhibition Gallery and the entire Atrium space. The displays will allow visitors to
walk around individualistic spaces that have been arranged according to category. The display
space has very few captions or explanations, leaving the visitors free to walk around as much as
they like, considering the mutual relationships and origins of the works. Generally, his exhibitions
show each individual category separately, but in this one, the divisions between the categories
will present ‘metamorphosing shapes’ etc., allowing the viewer to look at and experience the
entire world created by the works that fill the gallery.
Diverse Collaborations - Books of Work
After the exhibition has opened, it is planned to publish a catalogue consisting of beautiful
visuals, photographic records, text by the artist, discussions, documents and data, which will
become the standard text on Kohei NAWA’ s early period. This exhibition will round up with a
display of various collaboration works that NAWA has produced (music, fashion, public art,
product design, etc.), including commercial projects. It will incorporate experimental display
techniques produced in cooperation with research institutions to support this exhibition.
We hope that you will take this opportunity to experience the equivocal development of world
he creates through his work, together with the various events that will take place during the exhibition.
ARTIST PROFILE Sculptor
Associate Professor, Kyoto University of Arts and Design
http://www.kohei-nawa.net/
http://sandwich-cpca.net/index.html
1975.9 Born in Osaka, JAPAN.
1994-1998 Kyoto City University of Art, B.A. Fine Art Sculpture. 1998-1999 Royal College of Art, Sculpture course,
Exchange program. 2003 Kyoto City University of Art, Ph.D. Fine Art Sculpture. In 2005, he stayed in New York,
for Asian Cultural Council (ACC) Japan-United States Arts Program. In 2006, he stayed in Berlin, for DaimlerChrysler
foundation in Japan art support activity program “Art Scope 2005-2006. And he was remarkable by the solo
exhibition at SCAI THE BATHHOUSE. He held a lot of solo and group exhibitions in Japan and overseas. Starting
from an awareness of outer layers or skins, he transforms materials into different forms of expression, based on
the concept of "Cell", and metaphors for perception and thought. In 2009, he held a solo exhibition “L_B_S” at
Maison Hermès, Ginza Tokyo. In overseas, he held a solo exhibition at GALERIE VERA, Hamburg German, and
collected from the praise of local art collectors and participants. Also, he took part in “The 6th Asia Pacific
Triennial of Contemporary Art, Brisbane Australia, and attracted much attention as the highlight of the
international exhibition, for example, the photograph of his work was used the cover of the exhibition catalog.
In 2010, he was an artist of Japanese representative in Busan Biennale and Bangladesh Biennale. And he won the
Grand Prize in Bangladesh Biennale. In addition, he released concept model of the cellular phone as Art Editions of
iida by KDDI, set up a public art in Toyosu, and produced a music video for a famous musician, etc., so he has
expanded more his range of activities. On the other hand, in 2009, he opened the platform for the creation
"SANDWICH" (Fushimi, Kyoto) that renovated the old sandwich factory. He has produced his own works there,
and also, has been managed the studio, where the creator of various genres such as artists, designers and
architects meets and projects progresses, as a director. Now, he teaches as an associate professor of Kyoto
University of Art and Design, and in ULTRA FACTORY to which artist Yanobe Kenji serves as the director, he held
a team project “2010 ULTRA SANDWICH PROJECT” with a lot of students, which was able to witness and to
experience closely whole contents of his activities as an artist, for example, a material experiment and technological
development in "Clean room", etc.
GRANTS / AWARDS
1998
"a boy and divine beasts" Alumni Association's Award/Annual Exhibition 1998
(Kyoto City University of Arts)
2003
Umehara Prize/Kirin Art Awards 2003/The highest award of Selected Artists in Kyoto
2004
Grant of the city of Osaka (Sakuya Konohana Prize)
2005
Grant of the city of Kyoto
2007
Award of Kyoto Prefecture Culture
2008
Jury's Prize of ROPPONGI CROSSING 2007
2010
Grand Prize 1st of 14th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh 2010
SOLO EXHIBITIONS/
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2002
"CELL", Nomart Edition / Project Space, Osaka
2005
"Visualize - The history and the futurescape of visual media", Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of
Photography, Tokyo, Biennial of Valencia "Thoughts of a Fish in the Deep Sea", Valencia
2006
"GUSH", SCAI THE BATHHOUSE, Tokyo
2008
"The poetry of bizarre", Fundacio Joan Miro , Barcelona Spain
2009
"Cell", GALERIE VERA MUNRO ,Hamburg Germany,
"L_B_S", Maison Hermès 8th Floor Le Forum ,Tokyo
“The 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Brisbane Australia
2010
Japanese representative in Busan Biennale and Bangladesh Biennale.
Receives the Grand Prize in Bangladesh Biennale. Releases concept model of
the cellular phone as Art Editions of iida by KDDI, and set up “VIA-Wall, as a public art, in the
office building Toyosu Front, Toyosu. Solo Exhibition "Synthesis", SCAI THE BATHHOUSE, Tokyo.
2011
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Solo Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo.
Hara Museum, Tokyo
Takamastu city museum of Art, Kagawa
Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo
Mori Art Museum, Tokyo
Entrance lobby of Takenaka Corporation Tokyo Main Office, Tokyo
Shin-Marunouchi Building, Tokyo
Toyosu Front, Tokyo
The Sovereign Art Foundation, Hong Kong
Franks Suss Collection, London
DaimlerChrysler Contemporary, Berlin
Pigozzi Collection, USA
Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane and more
EXHIBITION
INFORMATION
Organized by Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Co-organized by SANKEI SHIMBUN CO., LTD.
Supported by Shiseido Co.,Ltd.
In cooperation of SCAI THE BATHHOUSE / SANDWICH /ULTRA SANDWICH PROJECT#1-5 in Kyoto
University Art and Design / Peng Pei-Cheng Collection /Queensland Art Gallery / Sogo & Seibu Co., Ltd. /
SENHA&Co. / ABC TRADING CO.,LTD., INSUL-PAK SALES DEPT. /DIC Corporation /
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. / Nomart Inc. / K’ s Design Lab. / TOLI Corporation / De L Associates inc. /
Nihon Network Support Co., Ltd. / OptoCode Corporation / GENERALASAHI CO.,LTD. /
Bean Sprout Tokyo / TOSHIO SHIMIZU ART OFFICE /Panasonic Electric Works Co, Ltd. /
NEC Display Solutions, Ltd. / Hewlett-Packard Japan, Ltd. /MARUBENI INFORMATION SYSTEMS CO., LTD. /
Naemura Laboratory, The University of Tokyo /Yasuaki Kakehi Laboratory, Keio University /
BEAMS ARTS and more
[Admission] General: ¥1100(¥880) / Students and 65 and older: ¥800(¥640) /
Jr.High and High: ¥600(¥480) / Elementary and younger: Free
( ) includes group rates (20 or more) /
Exhibition ticket includes admission to the MOT Collection /
[Venue] Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT)
[Exhibition Period] Saturday, June 11 ‒ Sunday, August 28, 2011
[Closed on] Mondays (except July 18, August 15・22)and July 19
[Opening Hours] 10:00-18:00(tickets available until 17:30)
*Due to the effect on the scheduled blackouts by Tokyo Electric Power Company, the opening hours
may subject to change.For the latest information, please check our website.
[Access Information] Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo http://www.mot-art-museum.jp
4-1-1, Miyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN 135-0022
TEL ＋81(0)3-5245-4111(General Information) / +81(0)3-5405-8686(Hello Dial)
■From Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station on the Hanzomon Line: 9min. walk from the B2 exit.
■From Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station on the Toei Oedo Line: 13min. walk from the A3 exit.
[Staff] Curator: Tomoe Moriyama
Press: Kumiko Ohara
<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
Tel. +81-5242-1134 (Direct line to Press) Fax.+81-3-5245-1141
IMAGES
1
5
8
11
2
3
6
4
7
9
10
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART TOKYO
IMAGE REQUEST FORM
FAX:03-5245-1141
KOHEI NAWA-SYNTHESIS
As for Press Images, we have 11 selected images from this exhibition. These can be obtained upon request
using this image request form. Please FAX us at 03-5245-1141 or drop an e-mail at the press contact.
Regards to the usage of these imageries, please be aware of the following;
1) All provided caption needs to be inscribed upon usage of the imagery. (Title, Name of the Artist/s, Year,
Name of the photographer/s)
2) Trimming and editing of the imagery is prohibited.
*Much appreciated if you could send us a rough copy to the press contact before the final print.
*Please send us a copy of the magazine/newspaper/DVD/video/website link etc in order for our press
archiving materials and also for the verification of the information provided.
Name of the Magazine/
Newspaper/ TV program/ Website:
Please circle your publication genre:
TV / Radio / Magazine / Newspaper /
Free-paper / Website / Mobile site / Others
On-sale date/ Airdate
(if not definite, planned)
Name of the
Company:
Your Name:
E-mail Address:
@
Mailing Address:
Phone Number:
Press Images:
Fax Number:
Please tick in the box for the image/s you request.
□① PixCell-Double Deer#4, 2010, Courtesy of SCAI THE BATHHOUSE , photo: OMOTE Nobutada
□② PixCell_Saturation#2 (detail) "L_B_S" installation view at Maison Hermès 8F Le Forum, Tokyo, 2009,Work created with the support of the
Fondation d'entreprise Hermès, photo: Seiji Toyonaga
□③ Dot Movie, 2009, Courtesy of SCAI THE BATHHOUSE and Gallery Nomart
□④ Catalyst#11 (detail), 2008, Courtesy of SCAI THE BATHHOUSE and Gallery Nomart, photo: Seiji Toyonaga
□⑤ PixCell-Double Deer#3, 2010, Courtesy of SCAI THE BATHHOUSE , photo: OMOTE Nobutada
□⑥ VIA-Wall public art at TOYOSU FRONT, Tokyo, 2010, Courtesy of SCAI THE BATHHOUSE and TOSHIO SHIMIZU ART OFFICE , photo: Hiroshi Kai
□⑦ Villus#2, installation view at 14th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh(first place of the Grand Prize), 2010, Courtesy of SCAI THE BATHHOUSE ,
photo: OMOTE Nobutada
□⑧
PixCell [Zebra#2], 2009, Courtesy of SCAI THE BATHHOUSE , photo: Seiji Toyonaga
□⑨ Air Cell-A_36mmp (detail), 2006, Courtesy of SCAI THE BATHHOUSE and Gallery Nomart , photo: Keizo Kioku
□⑩ Villus (detail) "L_B_S" installation view at Maison Hermès 8F Le Forum, Tokyo, 2009, Work created with the support of the Fondation
d'entreprise Hermès, photo: OMOTE Nobutada
□⑪ photo: OMOTE Nobutada
Press Contact:
Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo Public Relations Section
Kumiko Ohara: [email protected]
4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0022 JAPAN TEL.03-5245-1134(Direct) / FAX.03-5245-1141