Carsten Nicolai

Germany

Carsten Nicolai (b. 1965) lives and works in Berlin.
Inspired by scientific reference systems, Nicolai explores mathematical patterns such as grids and codes, error and random structures, as well as the phenomenon of self-organization. In doing so, he continually breaks down the boundaries between various artistic genres. After his participation in documenta X (1997) and the 49th and 50th Venice Biennales (2001 and 2003), his works have been presented in national and international exhibitions in renowned museums and galleries. Comprehensive solo exhibitions have taken place at the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt am Main (anti reflex, 2005), Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin (syn chron, 2005), CAC Vilnius, Lithuania (pioneer, 2011), Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz (unitape, 2015), Berlinische Galerie (tele, 2018) and now upcoming at K21 Düsseldorf (parallax symmetry, 2019). Carsten Nicolai’s works are included in important private and public collections. Nicolai has received numerous awards and grants, among them: Giga Hertz Prize (2012, with Ryoji Ikeda); Villa Massimo, Rome (2007); Zurich Art Prize (2007); Villa Aurora, Los Angeles (2003); Prix Ars Electronica (2000 and 2001, with Marko Peljhan); Grand Prize Japan Media Arts Festival (2014). His oeuvre echoes in his work as a musician: For his musical outputs he uses the pseudonym Alva Noto. Diverse musical projects include remarkable collaborations with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Ryoji Ikeda, and Blixa Bargeld among many others. Nicolai toured extensively through Europe, Asia, South America and the US. Among others, he performed at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the San Francisco Museum ofModern Art, Centre Pompidou in Paris and Tate Modern in London. Nicolai scored the music for Alejandro González Iñárritu’s 'The Revenant’. The score was nominated for a Golden Globe, BAFTA, Grammy and Critics Choice Award. As well he has created the sound design for Iñárritu’s groundbreaking VR project “Carne y Arena”.  

武蔵野美術大学大学院修了。
80年代の活動当初から鉄という素材に魅了され、溶断と溶接を繰り返しながら作品を制作している。
素材本来の硬質感や重量感、彫刻＝塊という概念からも解放され、空間を変容させていく。
“場”を深く観察し、可視、不可視に関わらずそこに存在するものを取り込み、
独自の世界を構築する。
近年は石膏、ガラスなど異素材の作品も発表。
主な受賞歴に、芸術選奨文部大臣新人賞、毎日芸術賞、中原悌二郎賞。

Born in Tokyo in 1981. He was a painter and a documentary photographer. He completed his doctorate in the Department of Art Anatomy, Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts. Currently, he is based in Aichi Prefecture.
With an interest in the autonomy of images and the wonders of dreams, he produces photographs and paintings with an emphasis on animation based on "Kinola". Major exhibitions in recent years include "The 8th New Artist Exhibition is about us." (Kawaguchi City Art Gallery Atria, Saitama, 2019), "21 th DOMANI Tomorrow Exhibition" (National Art Center, Tokyo, 2019), "something acquired by counting" (gallery N, Aichi, 2019), "Setouchi International Art Festival" (Kagawa, Okayama, 2019/2016), and "Earth Arts Festival" (Niigata, 2015).