Coming Soon!: Artwork by Mark Nakamura

Mark Nakamura is a visual artist based in Vancouver. Through efficient and often humorous gestures, Nakamura interrupts pre-established codes of reading the images and objects that pervade daily life. He challenges his viewers’ perception by creating artworks that play with conflicting functional and conceptual values. For an artwork entitled, Temporarily Unavailable (MUMOK), Nakamura recreates the display for a painting that was temporarily unavailable for viewing at Museum Moderner Kunst, Vienna, which includes a sign and wood support bar used to hang a painting. Nakamura plays on the tentative nature of how his artworks function. While they allude to something in progress, they are an end in and of themselves.
Coming Soon!, 2009 30” x 30” Watercolour on Paper This work was included in the exhibition, Installation In Progress, at Lamda Lamda Lamda & Omega Mu Projects, Vancouver. This painting was given to close friends of the artist as an anniversary present. As recommended by Mark, the artwork was beautifully framed at Chernoff Fine Art and hung in the living room of their apartment. At a party held at their home, a guest commented on the nice frame and asked what they were planning to put in it.

Coming Soon!, 2009

30” x 30”

Watercolour on Paper

This work was included in the exhibition, Installation In Progress, at Lamda Lamda Lamda & Omega Mu Projects, Vancouver.

This painting was given to close friends of the artist as an anniversary present. As recommended by Mark, the artwork was beautifully framed at Chernoff Fine Art and hung in the living room of their apartment. At a party held at their home, a guest commented on the nice frame and asked what they were planning to put in it.

Untitled (Speakers), 2010 11.5” x 29.5” x 2.5” Each Graphite on Paper, Wood, and Glass This work was inspired by art from the 60’s, particularly that of Kenneth Noland. The basic idea for this artwork is to draw a connection between a functional industrial form and visual art, much in line with Minimalism. For this, Mark drew a series of circles on black paper, placed them in thick wooden picture frames, and displayed them on the floor, leaning against a wall. The result is an artwork that has a striking resemblance to speakers.

Untitled (Speakers), 2010

11.5” x 29.5” x 2.5” Each

Graphite on Paper, Wood, and Glass

This work was inspired by art from the 60’s, particularly that of Kenneth Noland. The basic idea for this artwork is to draw a connection between a functional industrial form and visual art, much in line with Minimalism. For this, Mark drew a series of circles on black paper, placed them in thick wooden picture frames, and displayed them on the floor, leaning against a wall. The result is an artwork that has a striking resemblance to speakers.

Back In Five, 2009 8.5” x 11” Coloured Pencil on Paper This work, which is all hand-drawn (including the lines), was included in the exhibition, Science Fiction 01, at Or Gallery, Vancouver. Canadian Art published a review of the exhibition, which can be found on their website. At the opening to the Or Gallery exhbition, some visitors were hesitant about entering the gallery. This was likely due to this drawing, which was posted on the front door. Mark was told that throughout the exhibition, the drawing seemed to create a barrier for visitors from entering the gallery. People would see the sign and wait outside the door. Apparently, this created some uncomfortable situations when the gallery staff were seen inside.

Back In Five, 2009

8.5” x 11”

Coloured Pencil on Paper

This work, which is all hand-drawn (including the lines), was included in the exhibition, Science Fiction 01, at Or Gallery, Vancouver. Canadian Art published a review of the exhibition, which can be found on their website.

At the opening to the Or Gallery exhbition, some visitors were hesitant about entering the gallery. This was likely due to this drawing, which was posted on the front door. Mark was told that throughout the exhibition, the drawing seemed to create a barrier for visitors from entering the gallery. People would see the sign and wait outside the door. Apparently, this created some uncomfortable situations when the gallery staff were seen inside.

All My Friends Are Dead, 2008 8.5” x 8.5” Graphite on Paper This is an album cover Mark drew for his friend’s band, Los Mediaticos. The font is meant to be inappropriate for the image and is typical of Mark and his friend’s dark and dry humour. It is more subtle than the original idea that would have had the musician smiling and posing next to the tombstone. There is a “children’s book” with the very same title, All My Friends Are Dead. It looks like a must-have for all parents of young children.

All My Friends Are Dead, 2008

8.5” x 8.5”

Graphite on Paper

This is an album cover Mark drew for his friend’s band, Los Mediaticos. The font is meant to be inappropriate for the image and is typical of Mark and his friend’s dark and dry humour. It is more subtle than the original idea that would have had the musician smiling and posing next to the tombstone.

There is a “children’s book” with the very same title, All My Friends Are Dead. It looks like a must-have for all parents of young children.

Proposal for Artist With Trophy (David Smith), 2007 22” x 30” Graphite on Paper Many modernist sculptures have the appearance of trophies, particularly Bird In Space, 1923, by Constantin Brâncuşi. This drawing is a proposal for an artist award project where Mark Nakamura will produce sculptures as trophies to give to artists that he respects. Under the guise of philanthropy, this project will actually be self-serving. Mark will document the award recipients standing with his artworks, making it appear that they are fans of his work. In this drawing, Mark is posing next to a David Smith sculpture.

Proposal for Artist With Trophy (David Smith), 2007

22” x 30”

Graphite on Paper

Many modernist sculptures have the appearance of trophies, particularly Bird In Space, 1923, by Constantin Brâncuşi. This drawing is a proposal for an artist award project where Mark Nakamura will produce sculptures as trophies to give to artists that he respects. Under the guise of philanthropy, this project will actually be self-serving. Mark will document the award recipients standing with his artworks, making it appear that they are fans of his work. In this drawing, Mark is posing next to a David Smith sculpture.

Studio Work, 2004 36” x 36” C-print This is the first photodocumentation of the ongoing project, Studio Work, 2004 - Present. Studio Work is an ongoing project that involves the production of a series of motivational text-based paintings that are displayed in the artist’s studio and used to encourage further studio-based art production. Beyond creating a superficial need for keeping a studio space, Studio Work examines the role of the studio and physical labour in creative production. The text works also reference motivational posters for workplaces and thereby draws a parallel between an office environment and an artist’s studio. The obvious and sad irony of Studio Work is that the meticulous and time-consuming hand-painted works being churned out in the artist’s small and pathetic studio does not go beyond the motivational, and therefore never results in the production of the kind of artwork that the texts refer to.

Studio Work, 2004

36” x 36”

C-print

This is the first photodocumentation of the ongoing project, Studio Work, 2004 - Present.

Studio Work is an ongoing project that involves the production of a series of motivational text-based paintings that are displayed in the artist’s studio and used to encourage further studio-based art production. Beyond creating a superficial need for keeping a studio space, Studio Work examines the role of the studio and physical labour in creative production. The text works also reference motivational posters for workplaces and thereby draws a parallel between an office environment and an artist’s studio. The obvious and sad irony of Studio Work is that the meticulous and time-consuming hand-painted works being churned out in the artist’s small and pathetic studio does not go beyond the motivational, and therefore never results in the production of the kind of artwork that the texts refer to.

Studio Work, 2008 36” x 36” C-Print This is the second photodocumentation of the ongoing project, Studio Work, 2004 - Present.

Studio Work, 2008

36” x 36”

C-Print

This is the second photodocumentation of the ongoing project, Studio Work, 2004 - Present.

Studio Work (Or Gallery), 2009 36” x 20” C-Print This work was included in the exhibition, Science Fiction 01, at Or Gallery, Vancouver. It is the third photodocumentation of the ongoing project, Studio Work, 2004 - Present.

Studio Work (Or Gallery), 2009

36” x 20”

C-Print

This work was included in the exhibition, Science Fiction 01, at Or Gallery, Vancouver. It is the third photodocumentation of the ongoing project, Studio Work, 2004 - Present.

Mission Accomplished (The War On Terror), 2008 Approximately 30” x 20” Wire This artwork is part of Studio Work, 2004 - Present. This artwork refers to a banner titled “Mission Accomplished” that was displayed on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during a televised address by United States president George W. Bush on May 1, 2003. The irony of the banner reflects the irony of Studio Work (e.g. the inherent failure of the texts to motivate art production beyond the motivational art project).

Mission Accomplished (The War On Terror), 2008

Approximately 30” x 20”

Wire

This artwork is part of Studio Work, 2004 - Present.

This artwork refers to a banner titled “Mission Accomplished” that was displayed on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during a televised address by United States president George W. Bush on May 1, 2003. The irony of the banner reflects the irony of Studio Work (e.g. the inherent failure of the texts to motivate art production beyond the motivational art project).

Act Now - Renee’s Worksite (Film Set), 2008 24” x 14” C-print This photograph is an extension of Studio Work. Rather than accumulating more text drawings, paintings, or sculptures for the purpose of display in Mark Nakamura’s studio to motivate himself, a group of new works are being created as gifts to motivate others. They have been given to friends and acquaintances working in a variety of professions in exchange for a photo that documents the gift in the recipient’s creative working space (and the rights to the photo). Thus far, motivational artworks have been shipped to a variety of international locations to an architect, a filmmaker, an art administrator, curators and artists. As stipulated in a contract between the artist and the recipient of the motivational artwork, the recipient is responsible for producing the photographic documentation of the gift in his/her given creative working space, which will become the artwork of Mark Nakamura. In some cases, there is an overlapping of art practices or blurring of boundaries created because of this project. For example, Act Now, was created for an artist who also works as a set designer working in the film industry. This artist has been working on a series of photographs where she documents the film sets that she works on. The photo above documents the motivational text artwork on a film set, which is representative of her own art practice but becomes absorbed into Mark’s art. This example also highlights that the result of these exchanges is an atypical collaborative effort where the artist has little direction over the final artworks and creates questions about ownership and artistic rights.

Act Now - Renee’s Worksite (Film Set), 2008

24” x 14”

C-print

This photograph is an extension of Studio Work. Rather than accumulating more text drawings, paintings, or sculptures for the purpose of display in Mark Nakamura’s studio to motivate himself, a group of new works are being created as gifts to motivate others. They have been given to friends and acquaintances working in a variety of professions in exchange for a photo that documents the gift in the recipient’s creative working space (and the rights to the photo). Thus far, motivational artworks have been shipped to a variety of international locations to an architect, a filmmaker, an art administrator, curators and artists. As stipulated in a contract between the artist and the recipient of the motivational artwork, the recipient is responsible for producing the photographic documentation of the gift in his/her given creative working space, which will become the artwork of Mark Nakamura. In some cases, there is an overlapping of art practices or blurring of boundaries created because of this project. For example, Act Now, was created for an artist who also works as a set designer working in the film industry. This artist has been working on a series of photographs where she documents the film sets that she works on. The photo above documents the motivational text artwork on a film set, which is representative of her own art practice but becomes absorbed into Mark’s art. This example also highlights that the result of these exchanges is an atypical collaborative effort where the artist has little direction over the final artworks and creates questions about ownership and artistic rights.