Kohei Nawa

Kohei Nawa
for Plus Magazine

Photography & Art Direction: Edvinas Bruzas
Words: Yuko Hasegawa
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Commissioned by Jae Kim for Plus Magazine, Issue 8

“Born in Osaka, Japan, Kohei Nawa is a visionary whose work spans the tangible and the ephemeral. His unique technique involves cloaking the surfaces of stuffed animals and figurines collected from the Internet with large and small transparent spheres. Additionally, he envelops everyday objects and toys in a layer of polyurethane foam, transforming their physical weight into mere visual impressions. This blurs the boundaries between virtual and real, reflecting contemporary visual realities. Nawa’s creative sanctuary, operated from his studio, Sandwich, in Kyoto, explores a broad spectrum of artistic disciplines, from art and architecture to scenography. Central to his oeuvre is the concept of movement—be it the intrinsic motion found in the laws of physics, such as gravity and centrifugal force, or the dynamic energy of his own physical gestures. These elements coalesce within his work, drawing from the profound interplay of time and space.”

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“I believe artists should be sensors or catalysts for the world. The visions and discomforts artists perceive are based on a hypothetical future slightly ahead. As society evolves, these visions may or may not materialize. Architecture, closely tied to cities and society, often adapts to its era rather than pioneering a forward-looking vision. In contrast, art, expressed through the individual spirit and body, involves wandering with anxiety, continually exploring possibilities of expression. This exploration is meaningful in itself. My work is motivated by questioning contemporary capitalism and exploring the true nature of human sensitivity in the universe. Even if my artistic endeavors are not fully understood now, I’m content if they find resonance and understanding in the future.”

— Kohei Nawa, interviewed by Yuko Hasegawa for Plus Magazine