Biography | Artwork

 

Yuki Nakano was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, and has been living and working in Brisbane since 2008. She is inspired by the drawing styles of manga (Japanese comic books), traditional and modern craftwork, and the fascinating pattern work you see in life, from flora and fauna to patterns of the world.

 

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2004-2008 Bachelor of Arts, Waseda University 
2006-2007 University of London, SOAS

 

2011 "Asian Folk Art" group show, Brunswick Street Galley, Sydney
2011 "Kizuna" charity group show, Hanasho, Brisbane
2011 "My Pink Grapefruit Days" - Solo Show, Hanasho, Brisbane
2010 "Dreamgirls & Candy Perfume Mountain" solo show, Hanasho, Brisbane 
2010 "This Little Piggy" group show, China Heights Gallery, Sydney 
2009 "Deck the Walls" group show, Bleeding Heart Gallery, Brisbane 
2009 "Artist's Dozen" group show installation at King George Square, Brisbane 
2009 Guest artist of Hiromi Tango's "Hiromi Hotel", Mackay Global Grooves Festival, Mackay 
2009 "Straight from the Heart" group show, collaboration with Hiromi Tango, Circle Gallery, Brisbane 
2009 "Curvy 6" group show, Nine Lives Gallery, Brisbane 
2009 "Essense of Pleasure" group show, Famous When Dead Gallery, Sydney 
2009 "Spin That Thing" group show, Famous When Dead Gallery, Sydney 
2009 Curvy 6 book launch exhibition group show, Mori Gallery, Sydney 
2009 "Draw more" group show, Juggler's Art Space, Brisbane 
2009 "Works on paper" group show, Kiln Gallery, Brisbane 
2009 Solo show, Urban Grind, Brisbane 
2009 "Art on your sleeve" group show, Stay Human Gallery, Melbourne 
2008 Arcade Mania book launch exhibition, Cafe Pause, Tokyo 
2008 Curvy 5 book launch exhibition group shows, Schwipe Don't Come Gallery, Melbourne, Outpost & Blonde Venus, Brisbane, Mori Gallery, Sydney 
2008 Solo Show, Nalu Cafe, Tokyo 
2008 Solo Show, Caffe e Bar U_U, Tokyo

 

2011 Lethbridge Gallery Small Scale Art Award Online Finalist

2011 Finalist in 'The Butterfly Effect' hosted at Toyota Community Spirit Gallery, Melbourne

2010 Creative City Microgrant, Brisbane City Council

2009 AvantCard Winner of Artist Competition 
2009 Youth Arts Queensland, Strut Your Stuff Microgrant  
2006 Asiagraph Winner of Digital Imagery Contest

 

Related work experience
 
2009 2high Festival Presented by Backbone Youth Arts - Online Coordinator 
2008-2009 Institute of Moden Art, Brisbane - Front desk reception 
2005 okyo Art Beat - website editor and translator 
2004 okyo Design Week - Volunteer

 

 

MdN Magazine 3/2010 (Impress Communications) 
Curvy 4, Curvy 5, Curvy 6 (Paper Tiger Media)
Young Artists Creating Queensland (Youth Arts Queensland, 2009) 
Asia Graphic Design (Zeixs, 2009) 
Arcade Mania (Kodansha International,2008) 
Curvy 4, Curvy 5, Curvy 6 (Paper Tiger Media) 
MdN Magazine 4/2008 (Impress Communications) 
Anthology Issue 37 (Beautiful Decay)

 

Q & A INTERVIEW WITH THE ARTIST
 
Q. At what age did you begin creating art?
A. As early as age two, and I have been drawing ever since. But I can say that I started taking it seriously, thinking about it and conceptualising at around 22. 
 
Q. Why do you make art?
A. It's a process in life. After daily encounters with beautiful or curious things, I need an output for everything I have accumulated. And by the time I am 80 years old, I can create something that I can confidently say that it is my greatest work.
 
Q. Who do you make it for?
A. For myself. Hopefully I can inspire others as I get inspired by others as well.
 
Q. Do you plan out a piece or do you wing it?
A. I rarely start a piece without a solid idea of its finishing look.
 
Q. Do you have heroes? If so, who, if not why not?
A. My father. He is a walking dictionary, extremely intelligent, caring, and he is the most patient person on the planet.
 
Q. How do you decide when a piece of work is finished?
A. I know what the piece should look like before I start it. 
 
Q. Do you have your own cure for artists block?
A. Go outside, look at art.
 
Q. Do you think having an art education is important in order to be successful?
A. Educating yourself is a lifetime endeavour, but it doesn't necessarily have to be done in an institution. 
 
Q. What is your favourite memory connected to making art?
A. Sitting outside in the backyard in the afternoon, with cool breeze and birds chirping, and drawing. Makes me happy that I came to Australia, and that I am doing what I am doing.