Press Release
Mizuma Art Gallery is delighted to announce the exhibition “The Breath of Nasirun: The Metamorphosis of Tradition” opening on Wednesday 10th September 2014.

Nasirun was born in 1965 in Cilacap on the island of Java, Indonesia.

He has been recognized as one of the most significant artists at work in Indonesia today. In 2013 alone, he held exhibitions internationally and was commissioned to produce a large-scale installation for inclusion in the Singapore Biennale. His works have been favourably received by a global range of collectors. This is his first solo show in Japan.

Indonesia, like Japan, is an island nation engulfed in rich natural scenery. Also like Japan it has a long-held tradition of belief in spirits, and many Indonesians follow a creed of local animistic gods known as Kejawen. As an artist raised in this environment, Nasirun is not attracted by one particular religion in his work, but by the sincerity with which mankind has faith in these kinds of spirits.

Nasirun’s works depict his own mental world as a Javanese person, and his thoughts and emotions regarding the many encounters within daily life there. The metaphors with which he expresses these ideas are the unique visual language with which his pieces take form.

We warmly welcome you to the first solo show in Japan of one of Indonesia’s most well-known, well-loved artists.
About the Artist

Nasirun (b. 1965 in Cilacap, Indonesia) studied at the Indonesian Art Institute (Institut Seni Indonesia) in Yogyakarta from which he graduated in 1994. His solo exhibitions have been held across Indonesia and internationally in galleries such as, Mizuma Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan (2014), Sangkring Art Space, Yogyakarta (2009), Nadi Gallery, Jakarta (2002) and the Galeri Nasional Indonesia (2000) which coincided with the publication of Nasirun: Ojo Ngono. His works have been the subject of various group exhibitions at venues such as Mizuma Gallery, Singapore (2014/2013), Sin Sin Fine Art, Hong Kong (2013), Singapore Biennale (2013), Garis ArtSpace, Magelang (2012); ArtJog, Yogyakarta (2014/2012), MOCA, Beijing (2011); Syang Art Space, Magelang (2010); Bentara Budaya, Jakarta (2009) and the Biennale Jogja X (2009). He has participated in many exhibitions and received the McDonald’s Award in 1996 and was among the ten best in the Philip Morris Indonesia Art Awards in 1997. Nasirun lives and works in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

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Also Exhibiting at Mizuma Art Gallery

About the Gallery

Executive Director Sueo Mizuma established Mizuma Art Gallery in Tokyo in 1994. Since then, the gallery has continuously presented artists from Japan and, increasingly, from the surrounding region whose works demonstrate distinctive sensibilities, unaffected by fleeting stylistic trends.

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2F Kagura Building
3-13 Ichigayatamachi
Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo
Japan
Opening Hours
Tuesday – Saturday
12 – 7pm

Closed Sunday, Monday and National holidays
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Tokyo 2F Kagura Building, 3-13 Ichigayatamachi
Mizuma Art Gallery
2F Kagura Building, 3-13 Ichigayatamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Opening hours
Tuesday – Saturday
12 – 7pm

Closed Sunday, Monday and National holidays
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