Video&Photo by Sims Green@SayArt
Seoul, SayArt — Get ready for an extraordinary art experience in Seoul as Pace Gallery proudly presents the latest works by Kohei Nawa. Running from November 22, 2023, to January 6, 2024, this exhibition, titled "Cosmic Sensibility," marks a significant milestone as it's the artist's debut solo show at Pace's gallery in the South Korea. Nawa's captivating collection of paintings and sculptures, spanning five distinctive bodies of work, including the intriguing new "Spark series," will take center stage. This exhibition is set to immerse viewers in the realms of perception, sensory experiences, and the profound possibilities of art.
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| ▲ Spark#6, 2023, carbon fiber rod, nylon, velvet, 111.6 × 112.3 × 89.3 cm © Kohei Nawa, Courtesy Pace Gallery, Photo by Sims Green@SayArt. |
Kohei Nawa's artistic journey often ventures into the realms of science and digital exploration. His multidisciplinary approach involves the skillful use of a wide range of traditional and unconventional materials, creatively harnessing their unique properties across painting, sculpture, and installation. Nawa's work serves as a fascinating exploration of the intricate interplay between physical and virtual spaces, the convergence of synthetic and natural forces, and the duality of individual and collective experiences. Throughout his body of work, visual distortions and transformations serve as thought-provoking motifs, encouraging viewers to contemplate the profound impact of digital technologies on their connection with and understanding of the physical world.
The five distinct bodies of work featured in this exhibition offer an insightful glimpse into Nawa's enduring fascination with visual distortions and paradoxes. "Cosmic Sensibility" invites viewers to embark on a journey into the mysteries of the universe and explore how our individual lives are intricately woven into the cosmic fabric. The central concept of the exhibition pays homage to the late artist Hitoshi Nomura, a deeply experimental and process-based artist, who passed away in October 2023. Nomura's influence as a teacher and mentor on Nawa's work across various mediums remains an enduring and profound force.
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| ▲ PixCell-Shoe#9 (R),2023, mixed media, 17.7 × 30.5 × 12.5 cm, © Kohei Nawa, Courtesy Pace Gallery, Photo by Nobutada OMOTE |
The exhibition unfolds on the gallery's ground floor, where visitors will encounter a striking new sculpture from Nawa's iconic "PixCell series." Additionally, the mixed-media installation "Biomatrix (W) (2023)" will captivate audiences as it traces the generation and flow of cellular forms within a canvas of flowing silicone oil. Complementing these pieces are works from Nawa's "Ether sculpture series," inspired by 3D modeling of highly viscous liquids in various stages of descent. These artworks collectively explore the abstract, textural qualities of individual and aggregated cells.
As visitors ascend to the gallery's second floor, they will find themselves in a world where cells proliferate, with a focus on a group of new sculptures from the "PixCell series." These sculptures feature transparent spheres or cells covering their surfaces, distorting viewers' perceptions of the underlying forms. This visual phenomenon underscores the profound impact of digital technologies on individuals' relationships with the world around them. Notably, the new "PixCell sculptures" exhibited in "Cosmic Sensibility" feature unusual combinations of antique furniture and miscellaneous objects, seamlessly blending references to the international history of Surrealism with contemporary issues, particularly the merging of physical and virtual realities through innovations in virtual reality and artificial intelligence.
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| ▲ Kohei Nawa, Photo by Sims Green@SayArt. |
Additional highlights in the exhibition include bold and enigmatic sculptures from Nawa's brand-new "Spark series," distinguished by their striking all-black finish. Each of these works is composed of velvet and a carbon fiber rod, serving as a meditation on the rift in the fabric of reality caused by the energy of agitated cells. The presentation also places a spotlight on Nawa's "Rhythm series," featuring combinations of variously sized shapes covered in velvet and artfully situated atop two-dimensional planes. These mesmerizing "Rhythm works" delve into the cyclical and energetic complexities of the natural world, reflecting the aesthetic concerns present in his "PixCell sculptures."
Born in 1975 in Osaka, Japan, Kohei Nawa is a multidisciplinary sculptor whose diverse body of work explores the perception of virtual and physical space, pushing the boundaries between nature and artificiality. His creative journey illustrates how individual components aggregate to form complex and dynamic structures, much like cells in a biological organism. Nawa's artistic repertoire spans painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, and various facets of design and collaborative projects through his Kyoto-based studio, Sandwich. His skilled use of synthetic compounds consistently draws attention to the recurring theme where materials such as polyurethane foam, translucent beads, ink, paint, glue, and silicone oil serve as tools that awaken an awareness of our mediated environment.
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| ▲ Kohei Nawa, PixCell-Bantam/Chair, 2023, mixed media, 119.3 cm × 44.1 cm × 56.2 cm, Photo by Sims Green@SayArt. |
Pace Gallery, a leading international art gallery, represents some of the most influential contemporary artists and estates from the past century. With decades-long relationships with renowned artists like Alexander Calder, Jean Dubuffet, Barbara Hepworth, Agnes Martin, Louise Nevelson, and Mark Rothko, Pace has established itself as a cornerstone of the art world. Since its inception in 1960 by Arne Glimcher and under the current leadership of CEO Marc Glimcher, Pace has built a distinguished legacy as an artist-centric gallery that continually presents groundbreaking historical and contemporary exhibitions. In its seventh decade, the gallery remains at the forefront of innovation, steadfast in its commitment to supporting artists and sharing their visionary work with global audiences. This mission is achieved through a robust global program encompassing exhibitions, artist projects, public installations, institutional collaborations, performances, and interdisciplinary initiatives. Pace's legacy in art bookmaking further underscores its dedication to original scholarship and the introduction of new voices into the art historical canon.
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| ▲ PACE Gallery, Photo by Sims Green@SayArt. |
Pace Gallery has been a trailblazer in establishing outposts in Asia, operating permanent gallery spaces in Hong Kong and Seoul, in addition to an office and viewing room in Beijing. In spring 2024, Pace will continue its global expansion by opening its first gallery space in Japan, located in Tokyo's new Azabudai Hills development.
Sayart / Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com
