Masatake Kozaki

Kouzaki depicts an utopian world TOUGEN combining both Western and Japanese techniques of collaged gold leaf, mineral pigments and other elements which give a relief effect. If his primary influences is ranging from Hieronymus Bosch to screen paintings of Edo Period Rakuchu rakugaizu, he also introduces futuristic plants, vehicles or demonic creatures to give warning for excess of human technology or civilization. After the disaster of 3.11 in Tohoku area, his hometown, he seems to question the possibility of Tohoku painting as a genre, whence he uses some local motifs such as Akabeko (red cow) or Kokeshi (wood doll) of the area.His theme is TOUGEN, and he creates unique world of inlaying strange figures and creatures. His world manifests the commonly understood message over the border and the space-time and entertains the viewers.

Biography

- 1972 born in Fukushima

- 2005 graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts (Ph.D. in art education,)

- 2009-2022 Associate professor of B.A. oil painting at Tohoku University of Art and Design

- 2023- Special Professor at Joshibi University of Art and Design, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Fine Arts, Major in Western Painting

- 2023- Special Professor at Joshibi University of Art and Design, Faculty of Fine Arts, Graduate School of Fine Arts, Pre-doctoral Course

- 2023- Special Lecturer at Nihon University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Graduate School of Art and Design, Department of Art and Design

Solo Exhibitions

- 2022 "Chimera Plants" @Tsutaya T-SITE /Daikanyama, Tokyo, Japan

- 2020 "MUGEN" Art Front Gallery / Tokyo

- 2016 "Becoming Place" Art Front Gallery / Tokyo

- 2014 VOLTA NY Exhibitors Dillion Gallery / New York

- 2012 "TOUGEN" Art Front Gallery / Tokyo

- "THE TOUGEN SIRIES" DILLON GALLERY / New York

- 2007 Sato Museum of Art / Tokyo

Group Exhibitions

- 2023 WE LOVE SINGAPORE Whitestone Gallery /Singapore

- 2022 Is it possible to create Tohoku paintings?　-Kaikai Kiki Gallery /Motoazabu, Tokyo, Japan

- 2022 Is it possible to create Tohoku paintings? -Senkei Manshoku - The Hiroshima Panels Maruki Gallery/ Higashimatsuyama, Saitama, Japan

- 2022 Where is TOUGEN? Masatake KOZAKI Retirement Memorial Seminar Exhibition Yuu Gallery / Tokyo, Japan

- 2022 New Stars Art Exhibition 2022 Hankyu Umeda Main Store / Osaka, Japan

- 2021 Heisei Bijutsu - Utakata to Kareki - 1989-2019 Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art / Kyoto

- 2022 New Stars Art Exhibition 2022 Hankyu Umeda Main Store / Osaka, Japan

- 2021 "Survival Nature"@ GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS / Tokyo

- 2019 TOHOKU CALLING Sato Museum of Art / Tokyo

- 2018 Bishiki x Bishiki x BiShiKi Exhibition in Amami Tanaka Isson Memorial Museum of Art / Amami City, Kagoshima

- 2018 Yamagata Biennale 2018 '100 Stories like Mountains' / Yamagata

- 2017 Art Central, Hong Kong, China [17, 18, 19].

- 2017 Is it possible to create Tohoku paintings? Tsuruoka City Museum of Art / Tsuruoka, Yamagata

- 2017 Art Fair Art Stage Singapole2017 / Singapore

- 2016 Yamagata Biennale 2016 "Is Tohoku-ga possible?" Museum of Contemporary Art, Chikanokuni / Yamagata

- 2016 'Why do we all love flowers?' Echigo-Tsumari Art Field Matsudai 'Nohbutai' / Niigata

- 2016“Is it Possible "TOHOKU-GA"? " Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, T-Art Gallery / Tokyo

- 2015“Dillon Gallery Artsy's Trending Young Artists” Zona MACO 2015 / Mexico

- 2015“Art 15” Dillon Gallery / London

- 2013 "Art MIAMI" Dillion Gallery / New York

- 2011 Descending Images, Yamagata Art Museum / Yamagata

- 2010 Aizu Art Festival of lacquer / Fukushima

- ITSU：Japanese Paintings beyond Tradition, Hillside Forum / Tokyo (organized by Art Front Gallery)

- 2008 Ma Exhibition - New Traditions in Nihonga, DILLON GALLERY / New York

- 2005 The 24th Sompo Japan Fine Art Foundation Exhibition / Tokyo

- New Spirit Fukushima, Fukushima Prefectural Museum of Art / Fukushima

- 2004 Shigeru Aoki Memorial Prize Exhibition, Ishibashi Museum of Art / Fukuoka and other venes

- 2002 Nakamichi Exhibition, Fuchu Municipal Museum of Art / Tokyo

- 2001 The 5th Kanji Maeta Prize Exhibition, Takashimaya / Tokyo

- 2000 UBS Art Award 2000, White Chapel Gallery / London

Awards

- 2000 received USB Art Award 2000, Finalist Japan

- received Moriya Prize in Moritani Educational Foundation

- 2004 received Grand Prize in the 13th Shigeru Aoki Memorial Prize,

Collection / Public Art

- Tokyo University of the Arts, Moritani Educational Foundation,

- Chuo University, Sato Museum of Art, Rubin Museum (NY),

- The St.Regis OSAKA, The Plaza Hotel (NY), Dakanyama T-Site Anjin, Tutaya Umeda