Nobuhito Nishigawara's sculptural work plays out the battle of cultural identity in a humorous way with dark undercurrents. The work focuses on the dichotomies and junctures of the two cultures that prevail upon the artist – those of Japan and the US. The resulting strange figures reference various models, including toys, to reflect the commercialization of individual experience that forms our desires and identities. These figures relate and interact with each other, exploring interpersonal and societal connections. Nishigawara utilizes characters, poses and gestures sourced from religion, Manga, J-Pop and traditional Japanese culture – as well as American models – combined with other cultural sources from around the world to create odd visual nexus points of cross pollination.
Nishigawara (born 1974, Nagoya, Japan) received his BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute (MO) and his MFA from Arizona State University (AZ). He has exhibited his work widely throughout the United States in both group and solo exhibitions in Los Angeles, Seattle, Scottsdale, Miami and Tuscon. He is the recipient of the 2003 Phoenix Art Museum's Contemporary Forum Grant Award. Nishigawara lives and works in Santa Ana, CA.
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