TETSUYA NAKAMURA: GO FIGURE

Nanzuka is pleased to present GO FIGURE, a solo exhibition of new works by Nagano-based artist Tetsuya Nakamura at Nanzuka Underground.

June 26 – August 2, 2025

Nakamura (b.1968, Chiba Prefecture), who studied Urushi-Art (Japanese Lacquer) at the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts, reinterprets the materials and techniques of traditional crafts to produce sculptural works of various forms that bring focus to the input that visual information can potentially have on living things. Since 1998, he has developed a sculptural work titled Replica Series that replicate jet aircrafts under themes such as “speed” and “remodeling” that serve as symbols of contemporary society. In recent years he has produced robot works that take on the aesthetics of weathering observed in custom paint culture, as well as sculptural works that evoke life forms such as animals, plants, and monsters.

“GO FIGURE” derives from the slang term meaning “incomprehensible” or “mysterious.” The feeling of ecstasy we feel when we come into contact with an aesthetic object is always somewhat enigmatic. Taking this sensation as a starting point, this exhibition is an attempt to explore figure that fascinate human beings in a universal and fundamental way.

I myself sometimes encounter incomprehensible moments when creating my works, and now and again I feel as if I am experiencing sensations that go beyond the scope of my thoughts and brain. I would be delighted if viewers could also engage with my works with a “GO FIGURE” attitude. -Tetsuya Nakamura

The exhibition features a number of motifs such as automobiles, motorcycles, and monsters, which are often deemed as “childish” in the eyes of society. Although these may not “roar” in a practical sense, they do have a “GO FIGURE” appeal.