Interview: Masaki Hirokawa / 廣川政樹 - THE BODY LANGUAGE 2022
Interview: Masaki Hirokawa
Luca Curci talks with Masaki Hirokawa during THE BODY LANGUAGE 2022, at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space.

ITSLIQUID Group published an interview on their official website. I cherish each and every opportunity I am given and will continue to create with all my heart and soul. I believe this is my only role in this world. I can only continue to pray for the world.

ITSLIQUID Groupさんの公式サイトにインタビュー記事を掲載いただきました。与えられた機会の一つ一つを大切にし、これからも全身全霊で創作に取り組みます。それがこの世界に於ける唯一の役割であると思っています。自分には世界に祈りを捧げ続けることしか出来ません。
Questions:

- What is art for you?
In my case, art is a medium for communication without words. It overflows with emotions which cannot be expressed in words. In other words, I see it as nothing more than excess waste products. I have been creating art since my teens.
Much of my inspiration comes from the external environment, while the rest comes from deep within, spewing upward.
In both cases, my physical body is a tool in a higher dimension and a pathway of energy, no more than a catalyst. There is no room for my personal thoughts or feelings in the creative process.
However, due to the repetitive, experimental process of instilling personal thoughts and feelings in my creative work, I believe that there is meaning in having a physical body as a human being.

- What are you currently working on?
Up to now, I have created mostly photo collages focusing on people. However, I am now refining a plan to use subjects other than people.
For example, landscapes, flowers, animals and other living creatures, and desolate objects such as architectural ruins. I want to create works having a freer and wider perspective.

- How is being an artist nowadays?
Since I won the ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2021 award, I feel fresh, like standing at the starting line as an artist.
In November of 2019, I started making photo collages again for the first time in about 10 years. Before that, I made some artistic work when I had time while working as a game developer or app developer, etc.
I will be creating many more works with a wider freedom of expression. I hope the resulting works will make more people feel at least a little more happy.

- Do visitors’ suggestions enrich yourself and your art?
In my work, an inspiration first brings the final image to my mind. Therefore, it may be difficult for me to quickly reflect visitors' suggestions in my work. However, while creating the work, I might remember those suggestions and naturally incorporate them little by little. Whether people's suggestions are good or bad, they will help me grow as a person and greatly improve the level of perfection of my work.

- How do you choose your subjects? Is it a reasoned or an instinctive process?
I intuitively select my subjects which are wrapped by a white, transparent light.
It's almost like dowsing, where my hands move on their own without me thinking about it.
Of course, there are times when being intuitive does not work. Even so, it's part of my practical training and I always finish the work.

- What is the message linked to the artwork you have shown in this event? How is it connected to the theme of the entire exhibition?
Long before humans had language, they used body language to communicate. As I walked around the streets, I absorbed the swell of diverse emotions flowing from my surroundings. I then reflected those thoughts into my works.
In other words, the information I absorb with my body is directly transferred to my works. Even the intense, big emotions that cannot be expressed in words are imprinted directly into my images.
For this exhibition, the images are instilled with "prayer."
I made all these images while praying for the world to be tranquil and for people around the world to be happy. I selected the images that contained the purest prayers.

- In which way the artwork presented in our exhibition is connected with the exhibition's theme?
As with many of the artists, my images were also created through body language.
My role was to incorporate in the images the surge of diverse emotions received by my body.
Thankfully, my role is no more than to dance in front of the gods. The only thing I can leave behind in this world is "my shadow."
I think that beyond the work itself, in the creation step or body language process, the value is in the energy that disperses out into outer space.

- Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
Yes, when I saw the landscape around the exhibition venue, I really wanted to go there.
Also, the works of the other artists who are also exhibiting are all very interesting. I am really grateful for this chance to exhibit my work in such a place.

- Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
Yes, I would strongly recommend my artist friends to collaborate wth you.
You did a great job, it was top notch. Wonderful service.

- What is your idea about ITSLIQUID GROUP?
I don't think the art business in Japan is protected very well by the government. In such a world, it is indeed a noble deed to devote yourself to the art business to enrich people's hearts.
Since the business of making people happy around the world will grow further, I sincerely hope your company will continue to grow as a beacon of hope.
インタビュー内容(和訳): 

- あなたにとってアートとは何ですか?
私にとってアートは言葉以外の意思疎通媒体であり、言葉では表現出来ない感情が溢れたもの、つまり余分に溢れた廃棄物に過ぎないという認識で十代の頃より創作に携わって来ました。
インスピレーションは外的環境から齎されるもので、残りは内面の奥底から湧き上がって来るものです。
いずれの場合に於いても、自分の肉体は高次元な存在の道具であり、エネルギーの通り道に過ぎず、創作に私の個人的な思想や感情などが介入する余地はありません。
しかしながら、その成果物に対して、如何にパーソナルな思想や感情を込められるか試行を繰り返すプロセスにこそ、私が人間として肉体を賜った意味があると信じています。

- 現在取り組んでいることは何ですか?
これまで人物をフォーカスしたフォトコラージュ作品が多かったのですが、これからは人物以外の作品を制作すべく案を練っています。
例えば風景や花、動物や生物、または廃れた建物などのオブジェクトを用いた、より自由かつ広い視野を持った作品を制作したいです。

- 今、アーティストとしてどうですか?
今回 ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2021 を受賞させていただいたことで、ようやくスタートラインに立てたような新鮮な気持ちで居ります。
私は2019年の11月より、約10年ぶりにフォトコラージュ作品の制作を再開しました。それより以前は、ゲーム制作やアプリ開発などの仕事の合間を縫って、偶に作品を制作する程度でした。
これからもっと多くの作品、より幅広く自由な表現に挑戦し、その結果として生まれた作品が、それを観てくださる方々を少しでも幸せな気持ちにしてくれることを願っています。

- 来場者の提案は、あなた自身やあなたのアートを豊かにしますか?
私の作品はまず最終イメージが頭に浮かびますので、来場者の方々のご提案がすぐに作品に反映されることは考え難いかもしれません。
しかし作品制作の過程で戴いたご意見を思い出しながら、自然と少しずつ作品に反映されて行くと思います。
来場者の方々のご提案は、それが良い意見であっても悪い意見であっても、私自身の人間としての成長を促し、それが作品の完成度にも大きく影響すると思います。

- 被写体はどのように選んでいるのですか? 理性的ですか、それとも直感的ですか?
被写体が白っぽく透明な光で包まれたものを直感的に選んでいます。ダウジングのような感覚に近く、頭で考えずに手が勝手に動きます。
その直感が働かない時も勿論あり、そのような時も自身の鍛錬として割り切り、必ず作品として完成させます。

- 今回展示された作品に込められたメッセージは何ですか? また、展覧会全体のテーマとどのように結び付いているのでしょうか?
人間が言葉を持つ遥か昔は、ボディ・ランゲージでコミュニケーションを取っていました。
私は街を歩いて周囲から流れ込んで来る様々な感情のうねりを吸収し、それらの想念をそのまま作品に投影して来ました。
つまり身体で受け取った情報をダイレクトに作品に注ぎ込み、言葉では表現出来ない激しく大きな感情を、そのまま作品に乗せる形で表現しています。
今回展示させていただいた作品に込められているのは等しく「祈り」です。
この世界が静謐に治まり、世界中の人々が幸せになるよう祈りながら制作した作品ばかりで、その中でも純度の高い祈りが込められた作品を選びました。

- 今回展示した作品は、展覧会のテーマとどのように結び付いていますか?
多くの表現者の方々がそうであるように、私にとっても作品そのものがボディ・ランゲージにより生み出されたものです。
身体で受け止めた様々な感情のうねりを作品に投影して行くことが私の役割でした。
有り難いことに、私がこの世に残せるものは唯一「私の影」だけです。
作品そのものよりも、創作の過程で宇宙に霧散したエネルギーにこそ価値があると思っています。
その後には何も残らず、全ては風化します。そもそも実体がないのです。
Uriel / 静謐な世界 by Masaki Hirokawa / 廣川政樹

Uriel / 静謐な世界 by Masaki Hirokawa

ITSLIQUID Group, in collaboration with Venice Events and EGO’ Boutique Hotel, is pleased to announce the opening of THE BODY LANGUAGE 2022, an international exhibition of photography, painting, video art, installation/sculpture, and performance art, that will be held in Venice, at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space from January 27 to February 18, 2022, and at ITSLIQUID ART SPACE – Venice Grand Canal from January 28 to February 18, 2022.

THE BODY LANGUAGE analyzes the hidden parts of our identities, through an immersive experience inside the fascinating universe of the complex labyrinths of our consciousness.

The human body is a changing system that connects us with other bodies and spaces to perceive the surrounding reality; a strong communication system with its own language and infinite ways of expression. We invite artists to explore the connection between desires, needs, fears through rituals that bring humankind to change, to transform, and to evolve their inner world.
Image courtesy of Fares Micue
Image courtesy of Fares Micue
organized by ITSLIQUID Group
curator Luca Curci
in collaboration with Venice Events and EGO’ Boutique Hotel
project manager Giulia Tassi
project coordinators Amaride Ferrante, Veronica Piras, Giulia Spagnuolo
collaborators Federica Lapi, Martina Melica, Giulia Morroni, Grazia Rosa, Michela Sperandio
graphic designer Marina Caracciolo, Francesca Di Lauro
supported by BURO TOP ADVISEURS | DIGITAL TREE | K.L. ELECTRO | NATALIE SOBO ART | SASHA ASSAUL DESIGN

VENUES
THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space
Calle Larga San Marco, 374 – 30124 Venice, Italy
OPENING January 27, 2022 | 05:00PM
January 28 – February 18, 2022
09:30AM – 05:30PM | Monday – Friday

ITSLIQUID ART SPACE – Venice Grand Canal
Palazzo Bembo, first floor
Riva del Carbon, 4793 – 4785, 30124 Venice, Italy
OPENING January 28, 2022 | 05:00PM
January 31 – February 18, 2022
09:30AM – 05:30PM | Monday – Friday

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