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Kanako Namura

(Osaka, Japan, 1967)
Lives and works in Osaka, Japan.

The drawings, paintings, prints, collages and 3D objects of Kanako Namura are fueled by a common dilemma one faces in ordinary life; the need for control and a desire for freedom. Through her artistic practice, she explores an ideal state of mind by carefully managing the two poles. She works methodically, often creating systems, but also welcomes happenstance. A significant part of her work is done on or with paper and other everyday materials. The way she approaches them is influenced by textile-making traditions, which involve a deep understanding of the material and emphasis on the process. Her ideas come from images and phenomena she encounters in her surroundings where a sense of order and disorder coexist. She is currently exploring the concept of play, which she defines as an act of joyful transgression against a pre-existing condition or a set rules.

Kanako Namura was born in Osaka, Japan; and raised in both Japan and the U.S. She holds a BFA from Osaka University of Arts in Graphic Design and Kansas City Art Institute in Fiber Arts, and an MFA from San Francisco State University. She is currently based in Osaka, Japan. 

Most recently, she lived and worked in Mexico for seven years and during this time had two major shows at Galería Karen Huber. She participated in the international art fair Zsona Maco Mexico Arte Contemporaneo 2017 in Mexico City and Feria de Arte Contemporáneo Odeón 2016 in Bogota, Colombia. Her work was mentioned in the “The 10 most outstanding works in gallery week” by the online publication EXCLAMA. In 2020 she participated in the Aspen Art Fair, through Galería Karen Huber.

Among her individual exhibitions stand out: How to Play in the Park, curated by Verónica Guerrero at Galería Karen Huber ( Mexico City, 2022); A Nice Day yo Play at Guesthouse Chirin (Osaka 2022), How to Play in the Park at Gallery 1616 (Osaka, 2020): Like Watching Ice Melt ( 2017) and Accumulation at Galería Karen Huber (Mexico City, 2015); Festive ( 2015), Edging Away (2008) and Strokes-Weaving the Body in and out of Water at Yebisu Art Labo Gallery (Nagoya, 2007).


She has collectively shown her works in exhibitions such as Rokko Meets Art, art walk on Mt. Rokko (Kobe, 2022), non-paiting at Yebisi Art Labo Galley (Nagoya, 2021), Focus (2022), 50th Anniversary Exhibition (2021), a two person show Watercolors (2019),  Straight from Mexico City at Ruiz-Healy Art (San Antonio, 2016); Extrapolación del lenguaje at Galería Karen Huber (Mexico City, 2014); New Acquisitions (2013) and Gallery Selections (2012) at Don Soker Contemporary Art (San Francisco, 2012) and The Martin Wong 2011 Student Scholarship Exhibition at Martin Wong Gallery (San Francisco, 2011).


(Osaka, Japón, 1967)
Vive y trabaja en Osaka, Japón.

Los dibujos, pinturas, grabados, collages y objetos en 3D de Kanako Namura están alimentados por un dilema común al que uno se enfrenta en la vida cotidiana: la necesidad de control y el deseo de libertad. A través de su práctica artística, explora un estado mental ideal manejando cuidadosamente estos dos polos. Trabaja metódicamente, a menudo creando sistemas, pero también dando la bienvenida a la casualidad. Una parte significativa de su trabajo se realiza en papel y otros materiales cotidianos. La forma en que los aborda está influenciada por las tradiciones textiles, que implican una comprensión profunda del material y un énfasis en el proceso. Sus ideas provienen de imágenes y fenómenos que encuentra en su entorno, donde conviven sensaciones de orden y desorden. Actualmente explora el concepto de juego, que define como un acto de transgresión gozosa contra una condición preexistente o unas reglas establecidas.

Kanako Namura nació en Osaka (Japón), y se crió entre Japón y Estados Unidos. Se licenció en Diseño Gráfico en la Universidad de Artes de Osaka y en Fibers Arts en Kansas City Art Institute, además realizó un MFA en Artes en San Francisco University.

Actualmente reside en Osaka, Japón. Recientemente, vivió y trabajó en México durante siete años y a lo largo de ese tiempo, tuvo dos importantes exposiciones en la Galería Karen Huber. Participó en la feria internacional de arte Zsona Maco México Arte Contemporáneo (2017, Ciudad de México, y en la Feria de Arte Contemporáneo Odeón 2016 en Bogotá, Colombia; donde su obra fue mencionada en "Los 10 proyectos más destacados de la semana del arte” por la publicación online EXCLAMA. En 2020 participó en la Feria de Arte de Aspen, a través de la Galería Karen Huber.

Entre sus exposiciones individuales destacan: How to Play in The Park en Galería Karen Huber, curada por Verónica Guerrero (Ciudad de México, 2022), A Nice Day to Play en Guesthouse Chirin (Osaka, 2022), How to Play in the Park en Gallery 1616 (Osaka, 2020); Like Watching Ice Melt (2017) y Acumulación (2015) en Galería Karen Huber (Ciudad de México); Festive (2015), Edging Away (2008) y Strokes-Weaving the Body in and out of Water (2007 ) en Yebisu Art Labo Gallery (Nagoya).


Entre sus exposiciones colectivas destacan: Rokko Meets Art, art walk at Mt. Rokko (Kobe, 2022), non-paiting en Yebisi Art Labo Galley (Nagoya, 2021), Focus (2022), 50th Anniversary Exhibition (2021), a two person show Watercolors (2019),  Straight from Mexico City en Ruiz-Healy Art (San Antonio, 2016); Extrapolación del lenguaje en Galería Karen Huber (Ciudad de México, 2014); New Acquisitions (2013), Gallery Selections (2012) en Don Soker Contemporary Art (San Francisco, 2012) y The Martin Wong 2011 Student Scholarship Exhibition en Martin Wong Gallery (San Francisco, 2011).

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Selected works

like watching ice melt 101917, 2017

Water color in ice, pool paint and gesso on wood panel

15 x 10 x 2.5 cm

ike watching ice melt 102317, 2017

Water color in ice, pool paint and gesso on wood panel

15 x 10 x 2.5 cm

like watching ice melt 110117, 2017


Water color in ice, pool paint and gesso on wood panel

15 x 10 x 2.5 cm

like watching ice melt 111217, 2017

Water color in ice, pool paint and gesso on wood panel

40 x 30 x 2.5 cm

like watching ice melt 112517, 2017

Water color in ice, pool paint and gesso on wood panel

60 x 50 x 2.5 cm

like watching ice melt 113017A, 2017

Water color in ice, pool paint and gesso on wood panel

70 x 70 x 2.5 cm

like watching ice melt 112717, 2017

Water color in ice, pool paint and gesso on wood panel

15 x 10 x 2.5 cm

Game of Chance 111019, 2019

Watercolor and pencil on calligraphy paper

32 x 32 cm

Game of Chance 112919, 2019

Watercolor and pencil on calligraphy paper

32 x 32 cm 

Game of Chance 111919, 2019

Watercolor and pencil on calligraphy paper

32 x 32 cm

HOW TO PLAY IN THE PARK 0513MLBv, 2020

Acrylic paint, watercolor on Tosa washi paper

47 x 36 cm 

HOW TO PLAY IN THE PARK 0513MBh, 2020

Acrylic paint, watercolor on Tosa washi paper

47 x 36 cm

How to Play in the Park D-009, 2020

Watercolor, oil pastel, graphite on calligraphy paper

33.5 x 24.5cm

Drawings for How to Play in the Park D-020, 2020

Watercolor, oil pastel, graphite on calligraphy paper

33.5 x 24.5 cm

Drawings for How to Play in the Park D034, 2020

Watercolor, oil pastel, graphite on calligraphy paper

33.5 x 24.5 cm

Drawings for How to Play in the Park D-061, 2020

Watercolor, oil pastel, graphite on calligraphy paper

33.5 x 24.5 cm

Drawings for How to Play in the Park D083, 2020

Watercolor, oil pastel, graphite on calligraphy paper

33.5 x 24.5 cm

Kanako Namura

Apparatus D, 2020

Oil pastel, watercolor melamine sponge print on calligraphy paper

80 x 80 cm

Kanako Namura

Apparatus C, 2020

Oil pastel, watercolor melamine sponge print on calligraphy paper

80 x 80 cm

Kanako Namura

How to Play in the Park OLG-V, 2020

acrylic paint and watercolor sponge print on Tosa washi paper

42 x 32.5 cm

Video

Exhibitions

KANAKO NAMURA – LIKE WATCHING ICE MELT

December 2 – January 27, 2017

KANAKO NAMURA – ACUMULACIÓN

September 19 – October 31, 2015

KANAKO NAMURA - HOW TO PLAY IN THE PARK

Curated by Verónica Guerrero

November 2022 - January 2023

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