Kazuki Nishinaga
Photograph credit to Andreea Teleaga.
Kazuki Nishinaga is a sculptor who uses the motif of the frames to reflect society's structures. These structures can be observed as limitations and vital in contemporary society.
If you are interested in Kazuki’s work please send all enquires to kazunishinaga@gmail.com
Instagram:@k.nishinaga
About
Kazuki Nishinaga's sculptures focus on the theme of frames to reflect society's structures, such as culture. These structures can be observed as limitations and essential elements in contemporary society. Kazuki's practice reflects on the tangible and non-tangible components of our society, such as the space of the frame that can be understood as circumscribed and filled by the void, a present but at the same time imperceptible element.
In the Machines series, Kazuki has created structures that reproduce invented machines with no practical function to investigate their fundamental role in forming a human perspective, understood as a social construction. By inserting the decorative element inside his sculptures, Kazuki contrasts the frame's essentiality with the ornament's unfunctional presence. This element is seen as an evolution apart from human rationality, resulting from practical functions that have naturally become non-essential over time.
Kazuki is currently working on two collective projects. A third Map, with the artist Ryan Orme, is a project that aims to explore the notions of limitation and potential in space. Sculpture Exchanging is a project that involves the reciprocal exchange of works between different Tokyo artists to investigate and better understand their ways of artistic expression.
Biography
Son of an antiques art dealer, the sculptor Kazuki Nishinaga grew up in an artistic environment that naturally led him to develop his own sculptural practice. After his academic training at the Department of Sculpture at the Musashino Art University of Tokyo in 2016 and the Slade School of Fine Art London in 2019, Kazuki has developed his own artistic practice. He currently lives and works in Tokyo and his works are exhibited in solo and group exhibitions between England and Japan.
Selected Exhibitions
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
2018: Asteroid', Workshop 53, London, UK.
2017: Sculpting Machine, Gallery Madogiwa, Tokyo, Japan.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2020: Shortlist Exhibition/ The Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize 2020, Ashurst's London HQ, London, UK.
2019: Open, Bounen-kai, Space, WALLA, Tokyo, Japan.
2019: Odds, TOMA Project Space, Southend, UK.
2019: A Third Map, Rochester Square, London, UK (with Ryan Orme).
2019: Shortlist Exhibition/ THE JOHN RUSKIN PRIZE 2019: AGENT OF CHANGE, The Holden Gallery, Manchester, UK.
2014: Kodaira Art Site, Tokyo, Japan.
2014: ko no naka ni ku wo miru, Gallery LEDECO, Tokyo, Japan.
Awards:
2020: The Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize 2020, shortlisted.
2019: Dean's List, Slade School of Fine Art, Arts & Humanities, University College London.
2019: Edward Allington Prize, Slade School of Fine Art.
2019: THE JOHN RUSKIN PRIZE 2019: AGENT OF CHANGE, shortlisted.
2017: 47th The Ezoe Memorial Foundation scholarship.
Press & Publications:
“Curated Selection of Works” Art Maze Magazine. Autumn Edition, Issue 9, 2018. p76.
Images courtesy of the artist