about-en

I focus on the relationships between the ordinary and extraordinary, reality and dreams, and the exterior and interior; and at the same time, I am intrigued by their ambiguity.
While maintaining bold contrasts on the canvas through the unique combination of black and a variety of colors, I use a contradictory technique of drawing with a pencil over the matte black paint as well as the visual effects produced by delicate line drawing in an attempt to visibly portray the connection between human thought and obscurity on the canvas, and the world created by this mixture.
I believe that these artistic approaches provide me with the knowledge I need at the moment to be able to observe the state of this world from a higher perspective.

From Mexico

One of Reika Nakayama’s bases lies in Mexico, where she spent seven years of her life.
After completing her Master’s degree and engaging in a teaching job for two years, Nakayama decided to stay away from the arts for a while. She set out on a long journey that started in Mexico.
Soon after she arrived there, she realized that she could not make herself understood in English. She therefore studied Spanish in Mexico before making her way down to South America. She found herself gradually surrounded by friends creating artistic works, and was inevitably drawn back to the world of art.
Her works from the past several years reveal the nature and mood of Mexican people that Nakayama encountered during her seven-year stay there. They more or less relate to one another in that there are two sides to these works, whether they be the people’s happy nature juxtaposed against the history of aggression that casts a pall over the nation; reality versus illusion; or modernity mixed with indigeneity.

The unconscious, intuition, and coincidence

Nakayama’s first two-canvas piece.
Looking at this piece of art, her Mexican friend said, “The cell-like object on the left-hand canvas looks like a cross section of a peyote. If you eat peyote, you will experience hallucinations, in which you may do things like going up the mountains with a shaman. The deer will guide you to the right path.”
She knew about peyote, but was not familiar with the story behind it. The painting she completed with Mexico in her mind may have been coincidentally connected to a story such as this.
Coincidence born out of the unconscious. She wishes to focus on the unconscious, intuition, and coincidence while creating her works.

(Excerpt from an interview posted on Clippin JAM)

Art Fair

2022	Art Fair Tokyo 2022	Tokyo International forum,TOKYO
2019	ART OSAKA 2019 Exhibition PLUS Room#6126	Hotel Granvia OSAKA 26F, OSAKA
2013	Art Stage Singapore 2013	Marina bay sands/Singapore
2008	Art Agnes 2008	Agnes Hotel and Apartment/TOKYO
2007	ART FAIR TOKYO art club	TOKYO
	Art in Dojima Osaka 2007	Dojima Hotel/OSAKA
	ART FAIR TOKYO 2007	Tokyo International forum,TOKYO
	Art Agnes 2007	Agnes Hotel and Apartment/TOKYO
2006	Art in CASO 2006	Kaigandori Gallery CASO/OSAKA
2005	Art in CASO 2005	Kaigandori Gallery CASO/OSAKA
	ART FAIR TOKYO 2005	Tokyo international forum/TOKYO

Other

2017 Decorative cooperation “SORA FES 2017 -Let’s play facing up-“
2023.5.3　Reika nakayama Artist Talk show at sumikov gallery

Public Collection

The National Museum of Art, OSAKA
Dai-ichi Muyual Life Insurance Company

Prize

“A Certain Planet”
2011 The top prize the VOCA.

The world leads from outside to inside and then outside again.
From time to time, I suddenly recall a bright blue sky on a sunny day in Mexico and vaguely feel that what I thought was mundane has turned into something rare.
I often get asked why I chose Mexico, to which I find myself stating that any place would have done, but Mexico just sat well with me and I ended up making a prolonged visit. Even now, I am not sure what kept me there. However, a “hollow” remains in myself as a proof of my time in Mexico.
When I came back to Japan after seven years in Mexico, some time passed without my knowing what to do, which is a common consequence of this kind of experience. However, this “hollow” helped me gradually find what I wanted to draw. I decided to continue painting while entering and leaving this “hollow.” I believe that this process helped me complete some of my works entitled “Safarism.” This is in a way an exploratory behavior. “A Certain Planet” was also created through this process.
It is an expedition into the “hollow” present in myself. This “hollow” might lead to somewhere else or may eventually close up. At the moment, it seems to be expanding.

I think I will continue with this process for a little longer. I believe it may provide some clues to my contemplations about relationships between the regular and irregular, reality and dreams, and outside and inside.
(Excerpt from Nakayama’s comments upon receiving the VOCA Award)