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Art Central: Solo presentation of Katsumi Nakai – PAID EVENT

Date: 22 – 25 March 2023
Venue: Hall 3FG, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Price: HK$225 (for 22 – 24 March), HK$275 (for 25 March)

 

For more information on Art Central, click here.

 

Tickets available now.

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For Art Central, the Italian Cultural Institute in Hong Kong and Novalis Art Design Gallery has decided to share the works of Japanese artist Katsumi Nakai to the public of Hong Kong. The exhibition title is ‘HIRAKU’: OPENING UP TO FREEDOM.

 

This is an exhibition of Japanese artist Katsumi Nakai’s defining oeuvre, despite being his later works from 1991 – 2011. In finding Milan, Nakai found freedom in his own terms, namely his signature style of ‘hiraku’ (opening) works. Since his first work in this manner in 1966, Nakai has continuously explored the different possibilities of ‘hiraku’(開く) (opening), which is opening up from 2D into new space and dimensions. Nakai’s work is unique in its hybridity. His work is a cross between painting and sculpture, melding Eastern and Western influences (be it a conscious or unconscious decision). It is impossible to classify Nakai as one or the other, as his work reflects himself as a whole, whether that is his personality, or his life experiences from both the East (Japan) and West (Italy). Regardless of whether it was a conscious decision on Nakai’s part, the Eastern and Western influences have been absorbed by the artist through osmosis of simply living and experiencing culture from both Japan and Italy. Hence why viewers can get the sense of both Eastern and Western influences while looking at Nakai’s works.

 

It is interesting to note that his works have been compared to both Japanese and Western influences. They have been likened to church altarpieces, or little shrines in Eastern culture; some find the colouring to be Japanese in character, some see an Italian sensibility in the vividness of the colours; some see flora and fauna harkening back to kacho-fugetsu, the traditional subject matter foregrounding nature in Japanese culture, others see Western architectural influences or biomorphic shapes. It is not one or the other. In terms of Japanese influence, it was never intentional. However, it is inevitable that Nakai’s Japanese upbringing would have had an impact on his art subconsciously. He grew up in Japan, then lived in Milan for thirty years before returning to Japan back in 1995/6. His work is an amalgamation of his life experience, of his experience living in both Japan and Italy, and hence they show hints of both Eastern and Western culture, melded seamlessly together to form a portrait of Katsumi Nakai the artist, and his life.

 

Katsumi Nakai spent his life pursuing freedom. He has found it in art. In the act of ‘hiraku,’ opening up, and in his works, he shares this experience, this freedom of opening up to new discoveries to his viewers and to posterity.

  • Organized by: Italian Cultural Institute Hong Kong, Novalis Art Design