Kouhei Nakama – “there is an idea of dynamic equilibrium”
Creative Chair talks motion with the talented Kouhei Nakama
This week Creative Chair is in Tokyo, Japan, where we’re talking to visual art director, Kouhei Nakama. Set to music, Kouhei’s videos are highly-original amalgamations of the real and the abstract.
You can see a lot more work from Kouhei Nakama on his website.
Tell us a little more about yourself and what you do.
My name is Kouhei Nakama. I’m director/artist based in Tokyo. I’m involved in a wide field of design from advertising and commercial works. I’m also very passionate about creating original artworks.
Tokyo is a fascinating city; has it had a strong influence on your work?
Tokyo is a very fresh and exciting place where the combination of Western and Oriental cultures bears new values. Inspiration received from the city of Tokyo has a strong influence on my work as well.
How long does a project like Makin’ Moves take to render?
The time spent rendering is about 10 days in total.
What inspired you to create ‘CYCLE’?
In physics, chemistry, and others, there is an idea of “dynamic equilibrium”. This idea denotes that, because two processes move to the reverse direction of each other at the same speed, the state changes continuously from a micro point of view but does not change from a macro point of view.
Human beings cannot be seen to be changed from outside, but many organs and cells repeat life and death in the body. In the work, I expressed the scene by magnifying and emphasizing it. The life exists by repeating life and death in its own body, and in its cycle, by changing itself little by little, it appears to change itself in a form of “spiral”, not of “samsara” or “evolution”.
The 119th 366 Award goes to Kouhei Nakama for his outstanding creative work.
“The flowing river never stops and yet the water never stays the same.”
Hojoki: Visions of a Torn World
Do algorithms/numbers play a big part in the way that some of these effects are achieved?
Algorithms/numbers are indispensable for my work creation. Because many natural phenomena can be represented by numbers and algorithms.
And finally, if you died and got reincarnated as song what would that song be?
Pharrell Williams – Happy
Because I always get energy from this song. I want to be like that.
