Tamaki Kawaguchi

The morning sky, its pink hues at dawn, connects us across time. Has it inspired the same emotions in others over thousands of years? Sorrow, joy, adoration—what feelings remain universal? Since 2002, I’ve sought to explore these shared human experiences through my art, using insects as a motif for their ubiquity and connection to place.

In London (2002), I painted flies; in Berlin (2010), bees; and in Vietnam (2016), dragonflies. Each insect reflects the environment at the time. My process involves drawing insects inside a transparent box canvas over a week. What began as a focus on painting has evolved into a deep interest in audience interaction.

During an artist-in-residence program, I talked about my method, the symbolism of insects, and the white clothing I wear, reminiscent of protective suits from the Fukushima disaster or the COVID-19 pandemic. These dialogues became integral to my practice, sparking questions about meaning, environment, and connection.

As environmental issues grow more urgent, I see my work as a gentle prompt for reflection. Through painting and performance, I aim to foster meaningful exchanges with strangers, encouraging them to consider the world differently. My art is not about providing answers but...

Chelsea College of Art and Design, BA Fine Art, 2004

Kyoto University of Education, Art Education Course, 1994

SELECTED SOLO SHOW:
2020 City Gallery 2320, Kobe
2019 LISTHUS Gallery, Ólafsfjörður, Iceland
2018 Helmut, Leipzig, Germany
2017 CAS / Contemporary Art and Spirits, Osaka
2013 Art Space NIJI, Kyoto
2011 Fuji Gallery, Osaka
2004 Artists Gallery in Willesden Library Centre, London, UK
2002 T-BOX, art gallery in Ginza, Tokyo
1998 Osaka Contemporary Art Centre, Osaka
1994 The Art Center of Christ Church, New Zealand
1982 EBISUBASHI art gallery, Osaka
 
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2019 Hakujitsumu, 2kw gallery, Shiga
2018 PILOTENKUECHE, Leipzig, Germany
2018 Visitors, HEIMA Art residency/Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
2017 LEAVING LANGUAGE IN A JAPANESE LIMOUSINE, The Metropole Gallery, Folkestone, Kent, UK
2016 ART GARDEN, Hankyu Nishinomiya Gardens, Kobe
2012 GALLERISM in TENMABASHI City Mall, Osaka
2010 BERLIN+TOKYO Communication Art, the Freies Museum Berlin, Germany
2007 Kyoto URA Art Map, Kyoto Art Center, Kyoto
2003 Blue Wing Gallery, Richmond, Surrey, UK
2003 Red Gate Gallery, Camberwell, London, UK
2002 ’Borderline’ Century Gallery, London, UK

NOMINATED:
2011 ROKKO Meets Art 2011, Kobe
2010 Art Challenge
2010, Aichi Art Center, Nagoya
2009 Presentation & Exhibition, ARTCOURT Gallery, Osaka
2007 Art Court Frontier 2007 #5, Art Cour...