NORIYUKI MURAKI

2023

The "泉" (Spring) series refers to an indispensable element in life - water. Japan, being geographically rich in hot springs and cold springs, has developed a culture of bathing in these natural waters. Therefore, using the phenomenon of "泉" (Spring) expresses the concept of "water." For artists, "泉" (Spring) is like the source of life, the gateway to new life. Beneath the colorful surface of the spring of life, various life forms can gestate and hatch, creating a beautiful diversity. This is an essential aspect of biological life and holds significant cultural and geographical symbolism for Japanese people when artists create works centered around "water" as a theme. Additionally, Noyuki Muraki often considers the "unconscious" and "subconscious" in his creations. The presence of "white" in his works conveys a sense of "emptiness" and an "unconscious state. Artist Noriyuki Muraki was born in Japan, a nation whose shape resembles that of a seahorse and is known for its abundant seafood. During his years studying in Paris, the artist frequently traveled by plane, where he enjoyed observing the beautiful landscapes of various islands from a top-down perspective within the aircraft cabin. This experience sparked a whimsical idea in Muraki, a lover of both cartography and marine life. He decided to reimagine the "cities" he had visited, transforming them into entirely new and fascinating "maps" using various marine creature motifs, thus creating the "Mapscape" series of marine life maps. The "泉 (Izumi)" series represents an essential element in life – water. Japan boasts numerous hot springs and cold springs, giving rise to a rich culture of bathing. Through the concept of "泉 (Izumi)," Muraki aims to convey the essence of "water." To the artist, "泉 (Izumi)" is akin to the source of life, the portal through which new life is ushered in. Below the vibrant surface of the spring of life lies the potential for the nurturing and hatching of diverse life forms, a concept filled with beauty. This element holds great cultural and geographical significance for the artist as a Japanese individual, making "water" a thematic cornerstone of his work. Furthermore, Muraki often takes into consideration the realms of the "unconscious" and the "subconscious" in his creations. The prevalent "白 (white)" in his works symbolizes "emptiness" and an "unconscious state." The "colors" and "shapes" in the works represent fragments of the "subconscious." These fragments manifest in beautiful and unfamiliar colors and shapes, offering glimpses into a realm that remains beyond our awareness. The birth of celestial bodies brought about transformations in various materials, ultimately allowing life to flourish on Earth. Muraki's works consistently adopt a perspective that changes with the distance between the viewer and the artwork, akin to the view from an airplane window, observing the terrain below from a top-down perspective. It's a perspective akin to that of an astronaut gazing at Earth from outer space. In this exploration within printmaking, the focus shifts to the presentation of "wind." "Wind" is a formless presence, yet we can sense its intangible force. Be it a gentle breeze or a powerful gale, the artist quietly contemplates and expresses it through beautiful shapes, much like a song or a melody, dancing along with exquisite colors. "Island Rhythms" is a 3D series in which the artist takes the "shapes" created within his unconscious mind as the central theme and constructs them into an "island." In other words, the collective unconscious, over time, accumulates to form a "shape" that undergoes subtle oscillations as it flows through time, eventually becoming "land," and gradually giving birth to the concept of "an island" – a work that embodies the immense flow of time.

None