With an exhibition under way at Pace Gallery, Kohei Nawa discusses his obsessions: tradition, technology and artificial intelligence
“The Japanese culture is very philosophical and it is a very important source of inspiration for me,” says Nawa. “I really respect the wonderful skills of craftsmen, whose practices are also ways of thinking and ways of living.”
This mix of the old and new can be seen in one of Nawa’s most famous works, a dazzling 10.4-metre-tall golden throne that was suspended above visitors’ heads in the Louvre’s glass pyramid from July last year to February this year. “Created with reference to the forms of festival floats and portable shrines that appear in the rituals and festivities of the East, Throne fuses today’s 3D modelling techniques with gold leaf techniques that date back to ancient Egypt,” says Nawa.
This story is from the August 2019 edition of Hong Kong Tatler.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2019 edition of Hong Kong Tatler.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE LAST WORD
Every issue, we ask our cover star a round of quickfire questions that give us a little more insight into their personalities. This month: Takashi Murakami
GOING WITH THE FLOW
How does one approach the ancient philosophy of feng shui in a modern way? Three leading Hong Kong-based designers share their thoughts on this revered art of placement and how to introduce its principles into our spaces
SCENE MAKER
Italian architect Antonio Citterio reflects on his enduring collaboration with Maxalto and how far the furniture brand has come since its early beginnings
MODERN FAMILY
Kourtney Kardashian's California sanctuary by famed designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, is where elegance meets comfort
A TO Z COSMETIC TREATMENTS
From Botox to glass skin facials, here are the most talked-about cosmetic treatments to know
CHANGING THE GAME
Our world is ever-changing, and so is the way we experience it. Tatler explores how the travel industry is adapting to the needs and values of a new generation
ACTS OF SERVICE
Go on, then. Ask Vea and Wing's chef-owner Vicky Cheng what his love language is
THE BIRTH OF A MOVEMENT
More women are taking back their birthing experience and their power by challenging the institutionalised norms surrounding childbirth, honouring the healing process and leaning on the magic of sisterhood
THE RIGHT INGRDIENTS
Oscar nominee Tran Anh Hung, who won Best Director at Cannes last year, evolves the language of cinema to present the simple beauty of Vietnam
THIRST TRAP
Marilyn Minter takes an exclusive self-portrait for Tatler and reminds the world why raw, honest, non-conforming beauty is the most compelling kind