Wataru Yamakami

World of the world: Twilight control, 2018
Oil on canvas
130 x 162 x 3 cm

Totem 03, 2018
Oil on canvas
100 x 80.4 x 3 cm

Totem 02, 2018
Oil on canvas
100 x 80.4 x 3 cm

Portrait 01, 2018
Oil on canvas
65 x 65 x 2 cm

Portrait 02, 2018
Oil on canvas
65 x 65 x 2 cm

Wataru Yamakami

Biography

Born in Kochi Prefecture in 1981. Started graffiti on the streets of Tokyo from the age of 16. At the age of 18, Yamakami embarked on a hitchhiking trip and traveled around Japan, Thailand, India and South American countries for about four years while creating art works. In India he spent about a year moving from place to place studying religion and rituals. He became interested in shamanism and traveled around Peru in South America, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina, and held his first solo exhibition in Cusco, Peru. Yamakami's themes of 'proliferation and transformation', 'connection of boundaries', and 'exploration of connection points' are the origins of encounters with shamans, indigenous peoples, and hippies. The act of painting and making things is an attempt to connect this world full of questions with Yamakami himself. He won Special Award, The 12th Taro Okamoto Award for Contemporary Art in 2009, and Runner-up Prize and Audience Award, Tokyo Midtown Award in 2013. In 2019, he received a grant from the Agency for Cultural Affairs for Upcoming Artists and stayed in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Heri Dono, an artist representing Indonesia was the host. In 2020, a solo exhibition was held at the space, Studio Karahan established by Heri Dono. In 2022, he held a solo exhibition World of the World – Gathering wind, to send off into the sky at the Nizayama Forest Art Museum, Toyama in Japan which used a former hydroelectric power plant. He presented an installation in which a huge 7m x 12m painting and it’s moved by the wind.
Solo Exhibitions:
2022: World of the World – Gathering wind, to send off into the sky, Nizayama Forest Art Museum, Toyama, Japan
2021: World of the world - Under constellation 2021, SYP Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2020: World of the world - Under constellation, Studio Kalahan (Founded by Heri Dono), Yogyakarta, Indonesia
World of the world - The world began without human beings and would end without humanity, Japan Foundation, Jakarta, Indonesia
2015: Biomorphic form and dot to grow, Yokogawa-souen, Hiroshima, Japan
2014: Drawing Works, Nagne, Tokyo, Japan
2013: NEW WORLD, Masumi-Matsunoma, Nagano, Japan
2011: Eden, Maki Fine Arts, Tokyo, Japan
2008: Ushiro no Syomen, 8 Link Studio, Omachi, Nagano, Japan
2001: Solo Show, Casa de Barro, Cusco, Peru
Group Exhibitions:
2021: Overview vol.2, SYP Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2020: Overview vol.1, SYP Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2019: Group show, Pierre-Yves Caër Gallery, Paris, France
2018: Shinbism 2, Maruyama Banka Memorial Museum, Nagano, Japan
2017: Seeds of Memory, Langgeng Art Foundation, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2016: spiritual imagination, LIXIL Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
The Pathos of Things, Kyodo House, Tokyo, Japan
2014: THE MIRROR, Nagoya-Syoukoukaikan, Tokyo, Japan
Riyoo Kim × Wataru Yamakami Exhibitions Magic Real, Maki Fine Arts, Tokyo, Japan
MID TOWN Street Museum, Tokyo Midtown, Tokyo, Japan
Roppongi Art Night, Tokyo Midtown, Tokyo, Japan
metamorphosis 2014, Hachijuni Cultural Foundation Space 82, Nagano, Japan
2013: TOKYO MIDTOWN AWARD 2013, Tokyo Midtown,Tokyo, Japan
2012: ART SYNCHRONICITY, Creative Hub 131, Tokyo, Japan
NAGANO NEW CONSEPTUS, Shiga Kougen Roman Museum, Nagano, Japan
DAN T EA2012 ~ DESIGNTIDE>CHANOYUSIDE ~, Shinjyuku Isetan, Tokyo, Japan
2011: metamorphosis, Hachijuni Cultural Foundation Space 82, Nagano, Japan
2010: Globe show 2009, 8 Link Studio, Nagano, Japan
Japanese Inspired Exhibit, Mendocino Art Center, California, USA
Primitive Sense Art Exhibition of Lakeside, Asagura, Nagano, Japan
2009: The 12th Taro Okamoto Award for Contemporary Exhibition, Taro Okamoto Museum of Art, Kawasaki, Japan
Group show 2009, 8 Link Studio, Omachi, Nagano, Japan
Echigo Tsumari Art Triennial, Kamaboko Gallery, Matsudai, Niigata, Japan
2008: Group show 2008, 8 Link Studio, Omachi, Nagano, Japan
2001: Two Persons Show, Capilla de San Bernardo, Cusco, Peru
Awards:
2013: Runner-up Prize and Audience Award, Tokyo Midtown Award, Japan
2009: Special Award, The 12th Taro Okamoto Award for Contemporary Art, Japan
Grants:
2019: Agency for Cultural Affairs in Japan. One year stay in Indonesia
Public Collections:
Langgeng Art Foundation, Indonesia