2017 Residency: February 2017 through July 2017
In her painterly practice, Ai Makita combines digital and analog methods to express her view of the human world. She creates layers of painted and digital images that are piled on top of each other. Whether viewed on a PC screen or in a painting, they are identical. Referring to her images as “nonhuman” or “nonorganic” (e.g., metal objects), whether the objects exist or not in the real world is irrelevant to the artist.
Solo shows include “Gradation,” Gallery Vask, Manila, (current) 2017; “Behave As a Named Existence,” Roentgen Kunst Institut von Tsutomu Ikeuchi Gallery AG, Tokyo, 2015; “13・17,” Ai Kowada Gallery, Tokyo, 2013; “SIGNS OF LIFE,” Isetan Shinjuku, Tokyo, 2013. Makita has participated in group shows ”Chronicle, Chronicle!,” Creative Center Osaka, Osaka,(current) 2017; “Speak Soft, Listen Hard,” Gallery Underground, Philipines, 2015; “RAN-SHO KOH-JUTSU chapter Ⅵ curated by Tsutomu Ikeuchi,” Spiral Garden, Tokyo, 2015 Awards include: “18th. Taro Okamoto Award,” Okamoto Taro Museum, Kanagawa 2015; “1st. Terrada Art Award,” T-Art Gallery, Tokyo 2014; “Art Award Next 2012,” Tokyo Art Club, Tokyo 2012
Ai Makita’s residency is made possible with support from Pola Art Foundation and the ongoing studio partnership with Residency Unlimited.
Image: Ai Makita, Moving, oil painting, inkjet printing, cotton on panel, 2017