Yutaka Inagawa
Encyclopedia
Yutaka Inagawa is a Japanese artist trained in painting, line drawing and photography who specialises in exploiting digital photomontage
.
Born in Tokyo
, Japan, he grew up in the Ikebukuro
district. In 1997 he graduated first in his class at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
, then went on to gain a master's degree
in fine art
in 2004 from Chelsea College of Art and Design
in London
, England
. Since then he has lived and worked in London.
His art skilfully blends the delicate and the grotesque, juxtaposing photographic fragments, line art and painting to produce complex abstract works. His work is inspired by the uneasy lack of harmony between tradition and modernity in the fast-paced, constantly changing urban world. He sees parallels between his work and the way in which his home city, Tokyo, has absorbed western conventions into Japanese culture without any proper synthesis or reconciliation. He builds his organic-looking images from bizarre collections of carefully cut out photographic elements - including machinery, fish, road signs, leaves, weapons, furniture - the everyday alongside the unusual - the threatening with the benign - but skilfully intertwined so that the original forms are almost indiscernible.
Inagawa's work has been on display in numerous exhibitions throughout the world and he was shortlisted for the Celeste Art Prize in both 2006 and 2007.
Photomontage
Photomontage is the process and result of making a composite photograph by cutting and joining a number of other photographs. The composite picture was sometimes photographed so that the final image is converted back into a seamless photographic print. A similar method, although one that does not...
.
Born in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan, he grew up in the Ikebukuro
Ikebukuro
is a commercial and entertainment district in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan. Toshima ward offices, Ikebukuro station, and several shops, restaurants, and enormous department stores are located within city limits....
district. In 1997 he graduated first in his class at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
or is one of the oldest and most prestigious art schools in Japan. Located in Ueno Park, it also has facilities in Toride, Ibaraki, Yokohama, Kanagawa, and Kitasenju, Adachi, Tokyo...
, then went on to gain a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in fine art
Fine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
in 2004 from Chelsea College of Art and Design
Chelsea College of Art and Design
Chelsea College of Art and Design, the erstwhile Chelsea School of Art, is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, and is a leading British art and design institution with an international reputation...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Since then he has lived and worked in London.
His art skilfully blends the delicate and the grotesque, juxtaposing photographic fragments, line art and painting to produce complex abstract works. His work is inspired by the uneasy lack of harmony between tradition and modernity in the fast-paced, constantly changing urban world. He sees parallels between his work and the way in which his home city, Tokyo, has absorbed western conventions into Japanese culture without any proper synthesis or reconciliation. He builds his organic-looking images from bizarre collections of carefully cut out photographic elements - including machinery, fish, road signs, leaves, weapons, furniture - the everyday alongside the unusual - the threatening with the benign - but skilfully intertwined so that the original forms are almost indiscernible.
Inagawa's work has been on display in numerous exhibitions throughout the world and he was shortlisted for the Celeste Art Prize in both 2006 and 2007.
Education
- 1993-1997: Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, BA in Fine Art and Painting
- 2002-2003: Chelsea College of Art and Design, post graduate diploma in Fine Art
- 2003-2004: Chelsea College of Art and Design, MA in Fine Art
Exhibitions
- 1996: "Sanyou-Ten", Myu Gallery, Kanda, TokyoKanda, TokyoSee also Kanda, Fukuoka and the disambiguation page for Kanda. is a district in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It encompasses about thirty neighborhoods...
, Japan - 2004: XHIBIT 04, The Arts Gallery, London
- 2004: MA fine art show, Chelsea College of Art and Design
- 2005: Galerie Suty, Coye-la-ForêtCoye-la-ForêtCoye-la-Forêt is a town in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.-References:*...
, France - 2005: St'Art, Strasbourg Art Fair, StrasbourgStrasbourgStrasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, France - 2005: "Hybrid", Style Cube Zandari, SeoulSeoulSeoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south... - 2005: Summer Exhibition 2005, Royal Academy of Arts, London
- 2006: "Synchro-Tron", Aqffin Gallery, London
- 2007: New Art Center, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
- 2008: "Cosmopolis", Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London
- 2008: "Around the Clock", I-MYU, London
- 2009: "Sensory Cocktails", Gallery Zandari, Seoul, Korea