SAIAKUNANA is a girl born in the rural area of Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan in the 90s. As a young artist, she was obsessed with manga and became a true otaku, even described as “気持ち悪い” (disgusting). She has always been a fan of pink and after graduating, she insisted on having blonde hair. Her unique style led to repeated job rejections, preventing her from becoming a typical office worker. Despite her extreme passion for art creation, she was looked down upon and even faced online bullying, with her work being criticized as “最悪” (the worst)!
Always standing on the edge, NANA refuses to succumb to mainstream values. She boldly labels herself as “the worst” (SAIAKU) and calls herself SAIAKUNANA, turning art creation into a “weapon” for self-entertainment and defending her own life! In 2018, SAIAKUNANA won the grand prize of the Okamoto Taro Contemporary Art Award with her installation artwork “Art is Rock and Roll,” and she used the prize money to hold her first solo exhibition in New York.
In her nearly 10-year artistic career, SAIAKUNANA has never joined any galleries, but in 2021 she opened her own gallery in London, UK to showcase and sell her artwork. In recent years, her works have gained attention in the global art scene and have been sold at auctions multiple times. As Japanese art critic Kinoko Kaki said, “Negative energy can be a huge driving force for new artistic creations.”
右：IN THE MOMENT，塑膠彩木板畫， 750mm x 650mm
SAIAKUNANA’s solo exhibition “Rebel Pink” in Hong Kong is presented by WAY by Way of Difference. The exhibition showcases SAIAKUNANA’s new “Flower” series with 8 paintings, as well as 33 collage works, oil paintings, and sketches. The exhibition venue will also be transformed into the artist’s creative space, fully presenting her rock ‘n’ roll music world, struggles and growth story, and the artist’s daily life.
“Flowers” is the latest collection by SAIAKUNANA, and it is also a creation that she values greatly. The paintings depict her moments of self-reflection in an English park.
She, who did not know English, resolutely went to London to open a gallery, and ventured into the local art scene alone. Over the course of two years, she encountered many difficulties. During this time, SAIAKUNANA would often go to the park, listening to her favorite music while having conversations with herself. It was a cherished time for her. “Flower” was created a few months before she returned to her home country. She reminisced about her days in England, which were unforgettable and precious, and this drove her to pick up her pen and create. Through her artwork, SAIAKUNANA once again returned to those challenging yet fulfilling days, entering the park that brought her peace.
SAIAKUNANA Hong Kong Exhibition: “Rebel Pink Counterattack”
Date: From now until January 5, 2023 (Monday to Saturday)
Time: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Location: SeeFood Room, 3rd and 4th floor, Haus of Contemporary, 9 An Lan Street, Central, Hong Kong
Image source and learn more: WAY by Way of Difference
