Explore more exhibitions and events in Taiwan >>

Mountains, Rivers, and All Plants Attain Buddhahood | Kazuki TAKAKURA | Exhibition Information

This October, AKI Gallery is honored to presents a trio of distinct exhibitions, showcasing the works of contemporary Japanese artists Hiroshi SHINNO and Kazuki TAKAKURA within our Taipei venue. Hiroshi SHINNO 's creations, which he terms "living beings," engage deeply with natural ecology, while Kazuki TAKAKURA 's interpretation of "character culture" translates supernatural phenomena into artistic expressions. Through their markedly different contexts, these artists explore the dynamic intersection between humanity and nature. A rich array of cultural content and events will illuminate the autumnal landscape of Taipei, inviting you to revel in the season of art.

• 《Theater of Life－34°44'N 136°01'E》 Hiroshi SHINNO
• 《Mountains, Rivers, and All Plants Attain Buddhahood》 Kazuki TAKAKURA
• 《LAPUTA》ART TAIPEI 2024

Kazuki TAKAKURA (b. 1987), a graduate with a master's degree from Tokyo University of the Arts and currently a lecturer at Kyoto University of the Arts, harnesses the realms of digital expression—such as electronic games, pixel art, VR, NFTs, and AI—to reimagine contemporary art rules grounded in Eastern philosophies like Buddhism. His works explore themes of digital data's new values and artistic aesthetics. TAKAKURA’s creations have been showcased at prestigious venues including the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art, the Museo de Arte de la Ciudad de México, and locations in Korea, Boston, and New York. This exhibition, titled "Mountains, Rivers, and All Plants Attain Buddhahood," reflects the Buddhist belief that all elements of nature have the potential to achieve enlightenment.

Elements We Believe in but Cannot be Physically Touched

The works presented delve into the notion of the transcendent, they embody a unique Eastern natural view shared by Taiwan and Japan. By reinterpreting the grand origins of Buddhism and ink painting in the context of artificial intelligence, TAKAKURA regards Buddhist statues as a form of "character culture," built upon Japan’s distinctive "aesthetic of mutation." Through a meta-perspective that blends reality with digital realms, TAKAKURA constructs an artistic language that intersects emoji culture, character culture, and gaming culture.

In Japanese Buddhism, the phrase "Mountains, Rivers, and All Plants Attain Buddhahood" signifies that everything in the natural world possesses Buddhahood. This concept, known as "non-human enlightenment," contrasts with the focus on death in Shakyamuni's teachings and can be seen as a tantric affirmation of life. TAKAKURA's work imaginatively layers spatial transformations, emphasizing the importance of perceiving the essence of things. The interweaving of emotions, memories, and cultural differences converges in the real world.

From October 12, 2024 (Sat.) to November 9, 2024 (Sat.), we invite you visit AKI Gallery and immerse yourself in Kazuki TAKAKURA’s expansive field of information. Experience a new form that is both virtual and tangible, accommodating subconscious projections of visual and perceptual realms, and explore the vibrant universe of the mind!

Exhibition Details

• Mountains, Rivers, and All Plants Attain Buddhahood | Kazuki TAKAKURA
• Date: 12 October - 9 November 2024
• Venue: AKI Gallery
• Address: No 141, Min Tsu W. Road, Taipei 10369

Information Source: PR