(H)allo-poiesis by Kounosuke Kawakami

Often painting abandoned buildings eroded by nature, Kounosuke Kawakami chooses industrial architecture and resort towns as symbols for the interaction between the natural world and humans. In (H)allo-poiesis, Kawakami uses a new visual language to explore his interest in the relationship between man and the natural world. Distorted hybrid figures frequently populate the paintings, like products from a post-nuclear, sci-fi fantasy; a post-apocalyptic world where the distinction between ugliness and beauty has begun to blur. Digitally mixing imagery from a virtual world of popular Japanese culture with his own drawings, Kawakami creates an imaginary landscape. Starting with this clear image, he then builds up collages of both man-made and natural materials on the canvas to create further tension. Ultimately, he aims to leave his message open for viewers to make their own interpretations. Click here to visit his website.

Kawakami has exhibited both nationally and internationally. He has also organised exhibitions as an artist-curator, introducing many young British artists to Japan in shows such as Tech-Mach-Maya-Com, 2007, in Tokyo, and Japanese artists to London in Twenty, 2009, at the Dazed and Confused Gallery. His first solo show in London was Mindustrial Evolution at the Bearspace Gallery in 2006. Kawakami is represented in London by the Pippy Holdsworth gallery where he will be holding a solo show later in 2011. He is also with SCAI THE BATHHOUSE, Tokyo. In 2008, Kawakami was awarded a scholarship by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs and won a VOCA prize. His works are in many private collections.