Interview
Chizuko Ninomiya
Chizuko is an artist and systems engineer. She was raised by parents who are art lovers, and was exposed to art since she was born. Art has been a fundamental part of Chizuko’s life.
At university, Chizuko majored in civil law, after which she worked as a systems engineer at a financial institution. She likes to think about these ‘rules’ and ‘formula’ that are crucial in this line of work.
Chizuko also studied at LUKA NOSE art school in Tokyo, Japan.
She currently lives and works in Tokyo.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“Before coming to Tokyo to work as an engineer, I only had the opportunity to come into contact with traditional art from the past, like Renaissance and Impressionism. It was only after moving to Tokyo that I learned about contemporary art. I was fascinated by the idea of thinking about the society in which I live, presenting new values in the form of artworks, and weaving a new art history, so I decided to enter the art world.
With the spread of mobile terminals, we see more and more images and other data as a result of system processing. Recently, I started working on an installation work that advocates ‘online social sculpture’, using Twitter as a platform.”
What inspires you?
“I'm influenced by art history, philosophy, and computer technology.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“Programming languages and computer systems are common global languages, more so than English. They provide not only technical connections, but also opportunities for people to communicate with each other. In proportion to the development of information technology, what we need is an ethical awareness and conscience when using these powerful tools.
For this reason, I try to create works that imply the existence of ‘human beings’ behind the computer-related technology, even though I use it as a theme.”
“Not many people are aware of the processes and programs that are running behind the scenes during systems processing. By re-configuring the ‘not visible’ program language, as a painting, I hope to create a new kind of art. I’m trying to shed light on the invisible but important things.”
How would you describe your work?
“I would like to explore new forms of expression through a mashup of digital expression (computer language), and analog expression, through painting and installation. I would also like to explore and present new ideas.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I find I’m influenced by the works of Gerhard Richter, Isa Genzken, Wade Guyton, Mel Bochner and Edward Ruscha.”
What is your creative process like?
"I turn my hypothesis into a work of art, exhibit it, and collect the logs. There, everything involved in the exhibition, including the audience, becomes part of the log. When you run a computer, it outputs a log, and the analysis of that log is very important for testing and maintaining the program. Similarly, the logs obtained during the exhibition are analyzed and verified to obtain confirmation for the hypothesis and update it. After analyzing the logs, I add my experience and learning to the new hypothesis, create a new work and exhibit it, and collect the logs.
It would be interesting to practice art that develops in an open-source way. This would mean making information about the hypothesis and the creation of the work open, and collecting logs from the viewers. Just like GitHub. Of course, just as in the open source culture of programming, I would like to hear frank opinions such as those that are difficult to understand, or questions about the relevance of the hypothesis to the work. I don't think there is a need for any kind of mystique or inviolability about art in this forum.
I do programming and compose the source code. I process the results as paintings. I have also created installation works using programming, such as linking with Twitter and building a robot car.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“The role of an artist is to analyze and think about the society in which we live, to present new values and questions to the world in the form of artwork, and to weave history. Artwork is a rare medium that allows us to express our thoughts without being bound by any organization or restrictions.
As the evolution of technology brings about social change, I believe that contemporary artists will be influenced by it and create works of art as questions that foresee the essence and future of technology. In today's world, there are works of art that are not created by human hands. These works are controversial as to whether they are art or not. Rather than simply denying the value of these works, we should accept them as one of the circumstances surrounding our times, and develop our works while enjoying them. I believe that this process of enjoyment is evolution.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have had a number of solo and group exhibitions, and have won a few awards for my artwork.
Prizes
2020 - Unknown/Asia, online- Reviewer's Prize- online, Japan.
2019 - Independent Tokyo 2019- Judges' Special Prize.
2018 - Tagboat Award 13th - Judges' Special Prize- Tokyo, Japan.
2017 - Unknown/Asia, Osaka - Sponsorship prize- Tokyo, Japan.
- Tagboat Independent , Tokyo- Judges' Special Prize.
- Tagboat Award 2017- selected in a competition - Tokyo, Japan.
Solo exhibitions2021 - Deconstructing Witchcraft. Katsumi Yamato Muichibutsu Gallery - Tokyo, Japan.
2020: - Frankenstein's monster Formalism? Katsumi Yamato Muichibutsu Gallery - Tokyo, Japan.
2019 - Civil Law 709 / KATSUMI YAMATO/MUICHIBUTSU Gallery - Tokyo, Japan
2018 - Tagboat Award 13th / IID-IKEJIRI Institute of Design - Tokyo, Japan.
- Tommy -The New Age Order- / eplus Living Room Cafe & Dining - Tokyo, Japan.
Group exhibitions2020 - Unknown/Asia. Online art fair, Japan.
2018 - Unknown/Asia. Art fair in Osaka, Japan.
2017 - Unknown/Asia. Art fair in Osaka, Japan.
- Tagboat Independent. Art fair in Tokyo, Japan.
- Tagboat in New York / on art Gallery Ashok Jain Gallery - New York, United States
2016 - Tagboat Art Fes. Independent. Art fair in Tokyo, Japan.
- Tagboat in New York. Art fair in Tokyo, Japan.
You can read about some of my exhibitions here.”
