AKI Gallery

Period: 10/12 - 11/9
Artist: Hiroshi SHINNO
Location: AKI Gallery | 3F

Hiroshi SHINNO (b. 1979) draws his creative motivation from a lifelong familiarity with the natural world. His works are inspired by his daily observations of nature, his fascination with how living organisms shape themselves, and the underlying order of the natural realm. SHINNO’s creative process begins with the collection of natural materials and casting them into molds. These molds are then used to create specimens in resin, which are subsequently reproduced and reconfigured to generate \\\"living things\\\" distinct from their original species. Creating these non-existent \\\"living forms\\\" is not merely about the creation of an imaginary creature; it involves a dialogue with nature to explore the universality of its forms and reveal the fundamental structures of life. These \\\"living things\\\" are shaped by nature itself, reflecting the characteristics of their discovery sites and containing memories that humans cannot fabricate, thereby imbuing them with a sense of life.

SHINNO’s studio is situated in an environment rich with natural diversity, surrounded by a multitude of organisms. In the ever-changing landscape of nature, he encounters many unnamed plants and insects he has never seen before. The artist ponders, \\\"How do these small lives perceive and survive in the world?\\\" He believes that when numerous organisms coexist and influence each other within an ecological environment, the vibrant collisions of life create a spectacular theatrical stage. The title of this exhibition, \\\"The Theater of Life — Latitude 34°44\\\' N, Longitude 136°01\\\' E,\\\" invites viewers to experience the \\\"performance\\\" brought by these performers, while feeling the short, beautiful glimmer of life emitted by the various performers in this exhibition.

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Period: 10/12 - 11/9
Artist: Kazuki TAKAKURA
Location: AKI Gallery | 1-2F

Kazuki TAKAKURA (b. 1987) often employs technologies such as 3D CGI, pixel animation, 3D printing, VR, and NFTs in his creative endeavors. Currently, his work revolves around Japanese Buddhist concepts, seeking to rewrite contemporary art rules through Eastern thought and to uncover new value within digital data. The theme of this solo exhibition, \\\"Mountains, Rivers, and Grass: All Attain Buddhahood,\\\" reflects a Buddhist belief that every element in nature, from mountains and rivers to plants, holds the potential for enlightenment and spiritual awakening. This view, known as \\\"sentient beings possessing Buddha nature,\\\" contrasts with Shakyamuni’s Buddhist focus on \\\"death\\\" and can be seen as an affirmation of the natural world and life within Esoteric Buddhism. This concept, which was established when Esoteric Buddhism was introduced from China to Japan, shares similarities with Laozi’s Taoist notion of \\\"wu wei\\\" or \\\"effortless action\\\" in Taoism philosophy.

Last year, TAKAKURA visited the National Palace Museum in Taiwan and was deeply moved by the grand origins of Japanese ink painting and Buddhist statues. He perceives a striking resonance between this unique Eastern view of nature and the prevalent use of emojis, character culture, and gaming culture in modern society. For TAKAKURA, digital entities might reflect the philosophy of \\\"Mountains, Rivers, and Grass: All Attain Buddhahood\\\" and \\\"sentient beings possessing Buddha nature,\\\" much like the natural world. This exhibition invites viewers to experience a Zen-like dialogue between seemingly contrasting modern digital culture images and Buddhist philosophy, encouraging a unique resonance between nature and human culture, and a reflection on the shared Eastern philosophical heritage of Taiwan and Japan.