Our Stories and Books

Hello!

I will inform you next art show of Aliens in New York, Our stories and books!

I will show brand new Peekaboo-sculptures, and hold workshop, too.

Boogie on the Boulevard

Location: Grand Concourse and 165th Street, The Bronx

September 10, 2017

Hours: 12pm - 4pm

Please drop by the event!

My art show is a part of "Immigrant Artists" that I organize six artists from Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program Social Practice by New York Foundation for The Arts(NYFA).

The project is funded by Citizens Committee for NYC.

Supported by Boogie on the Boulevard org, The Bronx Museum, Bx Arts Factory, and New York Foundation for the Arts.

These photos are from last time of my project at Boogie on the Boulevard.

Many people tried the Pregnant woman Peekaboo-sculpture.

Many people wore the Empathy belly sculpture.

Many people participated Make own pin for showing supporting pregnant women and families.

I am looking forward to seeing you there!

Borderless: In Perspective

My old photo piece is part in a group art show.

Borderless: In Perspective, LiTE-HAUS Galerie+ Projecraum, Berlin, Germany　

This photograph is from the very first art project “Order Made Family” that I hold in 1995.

Here is a description about the photo.

Nikki’s Family: Order Made Family, Peekaboo art project

Photograph 1995

Due to my questions that many Japanese people still persist an idea of patriarchal stereotype family, I held Order Made Family, a participatory public art project, on the street in Tokyo. The project asked passersby to define the word family. Would it involve living together, or being related to each other by blood, financial ties, or emotional bonds? Each participant chose from a list of possible individuals of who would embody their ideal family picture. These individuals neither had to be parallel to their actual family make-up, nor did the artwork have to visually match the label or identity of that family member. Then they had to pick Peekaboo-sculptures to present each of the individuals they had selected. 

Now, numbering over 100, these life-sized Peekaboo-sculptures include various ages, races, and nationalities. The Peekaboo-sculpture selected didn’t have to reflect the actual age, sex, race, or nationality, or even animated creature state of that family member who, in turn, already may not mirror the participant’s actual family make-up. After each Peekaboo-sculpture had been picked, it was labeled to identify who that sculpture represents in the family. I asked other passersby to help sticking their faces through the Peekaboo-sculptures to take their virtual family pictures.  Commemorative photographs that match the numbers of participants were taken with instant camera, and the photograph was given to each participant as a souvenir.

Resulting family portraits included members who were multinational, same-sex, cohabitating friends, and even aliens in addition to more traditional combinations, all of were borderless and explored modern interpretations of the definition of family.  

This Nikki’s family photograph is one from about 800 family portraits that taken at Order Made Family during 1994-2000 in Harajuku, Shinjuku, and Kouenji in Tokyo, Japan.

A Pair of Bonsai Peekaboo-kun is for Sale at the New York Foundation for the Arts.

A Pair of Bonsai Peekaboo-kun is for Sale at the New York Foundation for the Arts!

This precious art pieces are filled with Swarovski Crystal Beads.

The base material is made with aluminum-reinforced plastic sheet.

Size: Left: 2'2" x 2'5" (66 x 74 cm)
Right: 2'2" x 1'9" (66 x 53 cm)

I was making a lot of Peekaboo-Kuns for 20 years and this is the first piece that I'm selling.

A part of the sale goes to support NY based artists!

Please ask the details for New York Foundation for the Arts.

curatorial@nyfa.org

https://www.nyfa.org/Content/Show/Curatorial%20Services

「盆栽顔出しクン」をニューヨーク芸術財団にて販売しています。

売上げの一部はNY州のアーティストのサポートになります。。

創り始めて20年目にして初めて顔出しクンを販売する事になりました。

アルミー強化プラスチック複合板にスワロフスキーのクリスタルガラスのビーズでデコレーションしています。

左: 2'2" x 2'5" (66 x 74 cm)
右: 2'2" x 1'9" (66 x 53 cm)

あなたの応援をお待ちしています。どうかよろしくお願いします。

問い合わせはNY芸術財団学芸員まで。

curatorial@nyfa.org

Thanks 2013! I enjoyed you very much!

Hi,

It is a time to reflect this year...

First, I got a fiscal sponsorship to my art project "Aliens in New York" from Artspire,
which is a support program run by New York Foundation for the Arts.
It was my challenge and a very good experience.
Here a cover image of the annual report of "Aliens in New York."

This is 17page long Manga comic style report and for my founders and donors to read.
If you make tax deductible donation to my project(from $1〜), you can read this great manga.
Donation page:
http://artspire.org/DirectoryDetail/tabid/95/id/1406/Default.aspx

The report was featured in Artspire news letter and I am very honored.

Next, I participated Immigrant Artist Program by NYFA, and I learned a lot.
http://artspire.org/NewsViews/Blog.aspx?entryID=223
I saw many differences how to carry an art project between Japan from USA, but I couldn't ask any question because I didn't to know how to deal with.
If you were very worried about something, you might not be able to ask help to somebody. Because you don't know how to ask help to whom, and where.

I got many useful information from my mentor, Carlos Martinez who also public art artist based on Jackson Heights, Queens.
His HP is here.

http://hibridos.co/

Other things? Oh, my manga "Tokyo Love Rica 'tte Kanji" was selected for The Best Manga 2013.
You can download this e-book catalog here:
http://www.otakuusamagazine.com/Main/BestManga2013.aspx

Do you see a image of my manga on the cover page?
I was very surprised. Next to that famous Shoutaro Ishimori's "Kikaider"!?

Thanks OTAKU USA!

What else?
Mmm, Oh, I created a brand new art work! other than Peekaboo-kun wood piece.
Here is the link:http://www.nyfa.org/level2.asp?id=170&fid=2
The group art show I participate is PANGEA.

You see the small image on the left end, two Bonsai Peekaboo-kun on the wall.
It is too small to figure out?
Okay, here much better images.

This group show is promoted by NYFA...

Now, I figure out NYFA made my almost all my year 2013.

Thanks so much New York Foundation for the Arts!