Profile
University of the Arts Londonを卒業後、ベネトン社主宰のアーティスト・イン・レジデンスFABRICAで日本人初の写真家としてスポンサーを受け経験を積み、ヨーロッパ各地で活動。その後もCanon、資生堂、L’Orealなど多数の企業からスポンサーを受ける。
植物や風景、人の肌など、アノニマスな被写体を通して、アブストラクト、そしてシンボリックに、人のDNDレベルでの記憶や、命の儚さや美しさ、をテーマに、日本人特有の自然観を生かした作品を発表。外側にある事物を通して内面の感情や美を表す、ある種、借景の思考や俳句表現のような日本古来の表現手法を用いて、自身の体の奥底に眠っている感情を作品に内包させる。
また、社会に潜む様々な問題と向き合い、その裏にある言葉にならない感覚や感情を独自の撮影手法にて視覚化し、国境を超えたビジュアルコミュニケーションを目指す。
Four Seasons Otemachiでは、全客室のアートワークを手がけるなど、建築家とのコラボレーションや空間デザインの分野においても表現の場を広げる。
Selected exhibitions
2022: ‘Ephemeral, stories with Japanese native violas in collaboration with Niwabito @ La Terre Jiyugaoka, Tokyo
2021: 'Les vêtements pour l’été » in collaboration with L'Armoire @ the sight room, Tokyo
2021: ‘Art District Tokyo’ @ Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi (Coredo Muromachi Terrace), Tokyo
2021: ‘TAGBOAT Art Fair’ @ Portcity Takeshiba, Tokyo
2019: ‘Venice Design 2019’ @ Palazzo Michiel, Venice
2018: ’TOKYO ILLUSION’ @ Dali Art Plaza, Taichung
2018: ‘LOOG workshop YUGEN and MIYABI’ @ Worktecht, Tokyo
2018: ‘Whiteout’ @ TAGBOAT Gallery, Tokyo
2015: ‘Recollection’ @ CANON Gallery S, Tokyo
2014: ‘Yokohama Paratriennale 2014’ curated by Sachiko Namba @ Zou-no-hana terrace, Yokohama
2012: ‘KEEP A BREAST JAPAN Tokyo Love Show’ curated by Yasha Young @ Omotesando Hills, Tokyo
2012: ‘The Common’ curated by Arata Sasaki @ GYRE, Tokyo
2012: ‘Kū’ Solaé art gallery project @ Akasaka Biz tower, Tokyo
2011: ‘Chic Art Fair 2011’ with Galerie Florence Moll @ La Cité de la Mode et du Design, Paris
2011: ‘Domestic Stills’ Solo exhibition @ Tokyo gallery, Tokyo
2008: ‘Out of Body’ video installation @ Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool
2006: ‘Tokyo Photo View’ sponsored by Polaroid, curated by Shigeo GOTO @ Roppongi Hills, Tokyo
2005: ‘Untitled’ @ Via Ventura ex-Faema, Milan
Awards
2021: Sponsorship by Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan)
2020: Sponsorship by Arts United Fund (Japan)
2015: Sponsorship by Vanguard (USA)
2015: Sponsorship by CANON (Japan)
2014: Sponsorship by Shiseido
2007: Sponsorship by Polaroid (Japan)
2006: Sponsorship by L’Oreal Garnier Paris (France)
2006: Sponsorship by CANON (France)
2003-2005: Residency @ FABRICA the Benetton communication reserach center (Italy)
2005: PHoto España 2005 ‘Descubrimientos - One of the best selected portfolios’ (Spain)
Selected clients and sponsors
Four Seasons
CANON
NIKON
Polaroid
United Colors of Benetton
Shiseido
Cartier
Dior
Kenzo
L'Oréal
Profile
Namiko Kitaura was born in Tokyo in 1977. After graduating from University of the Arts London, she attended FABRICA (the Benetton communication research centre) as an artist in residence.
She produces distinctive images with a strong, personal voice with use of a unique Japanese view towards nature and the relationship between life and nature. The implied Romanticism within her works is both abstract and absolute. Through anonymous subjects such as plants, landscapes, human skin, the images contemplate each other sensually, with a sense of graceful motion suspended in a non-temporal framework. With her unique techniques, Namiko aims to visualize the almost invisible aspects of the human condition that lie below the physical, and their juxtaposition in a symbolic and metaphorical way: passion in depression, comfort in sadness, tranquility in chaos and beauty in ugliness.
Her main theme has been related to people's DND level memories, the transience of life, and beauty of this transience.
Selected exhibitions
2022: ‘Ephemeral, stories with Japanese native violas in collaboration with Niwabito @ La Terre Jiyugaoka, Tokyo
2021: 'Les vêtements pour l’été » in collaboration with L'Armoire @ the sight room, Tokyo
2021: ‘Art District Tokyo’ @ Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi (Coredo Muromachi Terrace), Tokyo
2021: ‘TAGBOAT Art Fair’ @ Portcity Takeshiba, Tokyo
2019: ‘Venice Design 2019’ @ Palazzo Michiel, Venice
2018: ’TOKYO ILLUSION’ @ Dali Art Plaza, Taichung
2018: ‘LOOG workshop YUGEN and MIYABI’ @ Worktecht, Tokyo
2018: ‘Whiteout’ @ TAGBOAT Gallery, Tokyo
2015: ‘Recollection’ @ CANON Gallery S, Tokyo
2014: ‘Yokohama Paratriennale 2014’ curated by Sachiko Namba @ Zou-no-hana terrace, Yokohama
2012: ‘KEEP A BREAST JAPAN Tokyo Love Show’ curated by Yasha Young @ Omotesando Hills, Tokyo
2012: ‘The Common’ curated by Arata Sasaki @ GYRE, Tokyo
2012: ‘Kū’ Solaé art gallery project @ Akasaka Biz tower, Tokyo
2011: ‘Chic Art Fair 2011’ with Galerie Florence Moll @ La Cité de la Mode et du Design, Paris
2011: ‘Domestic Stills’ Solo exhibition @ Tokyo gallery, Tokyo
2008: ‘Out of Body’ video installation @ Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool
2006: ‘Tokyo Photo View’ sponsored by Polaroid, curated by Shigeo GOTO @ Roppongi Hills, Tokyo
2005: ‘Untitled’ @ Via Ventura ex-Faema, Milan
Awards
2021: Sponsorship by Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan)
2020: Sponsorship by Arts United Fund (Japan)
2015: Sponsorship by Vanguard (USA)
2015: Sponsorship by CANON (Japan)
2014: Sponsorship by Shiseido
2007: Sponsorship by Polaroid (Japan)
2006: Sponsorship by L’Oreal Garnier Paris (France)
2006: Sponsorship by CANON (France)
2003-2005: Residency @ FABRICA the Benetton communication reserach center (Italy)
2005: PHoto España 2005 ‘Descubrimientos - One of the best selected portfolios’ (Spain)
Selected clients and sponsors
Four Seasons
CANON
NIKON
Polaroid
United Colors of Benetton
Shiseido
Cartier
Dior
Kenzo
L'Oréal
Namiko KitauraNamiko Kitaura
Namiko KitauraNamiko Kitaura
前田博雅Hiromasa Maeda
佐藤弘隆SATO Hirotaka
前田博雅Hiromasa Maeda
Namiko KitauraNamiko Kitaura
佐藤弘隆SATO Hirotaka
前田博雅Hiromasa Maeda
前田博雅Hiromasa Maeda
