Kazuhiro Kita
Biography
Kazuhiro Kita was born in 1981 in Ishikawa, Japan. From the age of six he lived in Kobe, Japan. Between 2001 and 2005 he studied at the Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto. After school he lived and worked as a graphic designer in Tokyo until 2012, when he moved to Kagoshima, Japan. Since 2012, he has been teaching graphic design as an associate professor at Kagoshima Prefectural College.
As an artist, he started working on his own in 2010. He currently lives and works in Kagoshima.
Artist Statement
I create my works based on my philosophy of "Surrender to Nature".
Human beings are tiny in comparison to Nature. We humans are just a little part of magnificent nature. Therefore, I try to surrender myself to nature as much as possible.
What first prompted you to think of becoming an artist?
I don't think there was any particular trigger, but my original personality may have related with what I am now. I believe that this personality has influenced my career.
I didn't mean to be an artist. I collected things I liked and ended up being an artist.
What kind of an artist do you ultimately see yourself?
I don't care what kind of artist, but I would like to create works that no one has ever seen before in a way that no one has ever thought of.
What are you hoping to communicate to the viewer through your work?
I think it's not so important how my work affects people.
I just create my works based on my philosophy of "Surrender to Nature". Human beings are tiny in comparison to Nature. We humans are just a little part of magnificent nature. Therefore, I try to surrender myself to nature as much as possible.
Can you explain the process of creating your work?
My current works are made by Japanese traditional dyeing technique called Dorozome which is a type of mud dyeing techniques originated from Southern Japan island Amami Oshima. The process involves dyeing white threads repeatedly until they reach a deep black color. Traditionally, the technique is used for the production of Oshima Tsumugi, delicate patterned woven silk kimonos. Plants and soil of Amami Oshima are used in dorozome, and the naturalistic technique has been going on for more than a thousand years.
Dorozome I'm doing now is a unique method of pulling up the canvas after it has been soaked in the mud field for about a month. In the meantime, I have just waited until nature finished it. I work with my philosophy of eliminating the arbitrariness of the artist as much as possible and surrendering myself to nature.
What is your favourite part of the creative process?
It's the part that I surrender myself to nature. My works, created by nature, surprise me because they have different results each time, despite the same process.
Can you give us an insight into current projects and inspiration, or what we can look forward to from you in the near future?
I have a next vision of my current works, but I hope to announce it at the appropriate time. It will be an expression of the relationship between us humans and nature.
As for my exhibition plans, I will have the opportunity to show my work in person at the ARTE LAGUNA PRIZE Final Exhibition ,which will be held in Venice, Italy October 2021.
Website https://kazuhirokita.com
Canvas of Dorozome / mud dyeing on canvas / 165 × 80 cm 64 x 31 in
Canvas of Dorozome / mud dyeing on canvas / 115 × 100 cm 45 x 39 in
Canvas of Dorozome / mud dyeing on canvas / 200 × 100 cm 78 x 39 in
Canvas of Dorozome / mud dyeing on canvas / 210 × 400 cm 82 x 157 in
Canvas of Dorozome / mud dyeing on canvas / 210 × 500 cm 82 x 196 in
Canvas of Dorozome / mud dyeing on canvas / 210 × 500 cm 82 x 196 in
