Palimpsest of Phantasm: An imaginary art garden　vol. 2 Nikai Takehiro

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“The countless illusions spun by artists and accumulated since ancient times will coexist in a complex way that overlaps and stimulates each other, and will continue to writhe and transform forever without stopping.
And they will continue to alter reality, shaking our stalemated daily lives.”

〈Palimpsest of Phantasm: An imaginary art garden〉
November 2024　Soma Toshiki (art critic)

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vol. 2　Nikai Takehiro｜二階 武宏

wood engraving artist

｟swarm｠

2010　wood engraving on paper　40×28.5cm　ed.35　¥110,000

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Nikai Takehiro is one of the rare printmakers who is adept at wood engraving, an illustration technique that originated in the West in the 18th century. He has mastered this special technique, which would otherwise be difficult to master without investing a great deal of time and practice, in a short period of time, and has refined it to a considerable level of perfection.

｟ridicule fish｠

2014　wood engraving on paper　14.7×26cm　ed.35　¥44,000

｟vortex｠

2011　wood engraving on paper　10×13cm　ed.60　¥27,500

｟emergence｠

2009　wood engraving on paper　26.5×38cm　ed.50　¥165,000

The extremely deformed monsters are, in a word, a dynamic amalgamation of flesh-clad beings and machines that invade each other and then gather together. They appear to be still in the process of formation, without a fixed form or bodily organization, and seem to be constantly writhing throughout.

｟cloud｠

2006　wood engraving on paper　41×31cm　ed.30　SOLD

I’m sure I’m not the only one who is eagerly awaiting what monstrous deity will next appear in Nikai Takehiro’s bizarre fantasy natural history.

｟late at night｠

2022　wood engraving on paper　26×40cm　ed.35　¥165,000

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Artist

Nikai Takehiro｜二階 武宏

Born in Nagoya City, Aichi in1980.Graduated from Kyoto Seika University. In 2012, he participated in the International Print Biennale in Portugal (Douro).
Nikai is a rare printmaker who mastered wood engraving born in Europe in the 18th century ,which is now known as a difficult technique to master, in a short period of time at a young age. In many cases,his meticulous line drawings reveal bizarre and bizarre hybrid monsters, in which humans, birds, fishes and mammals are combined with groups of machines of unknown purpose in a jumbled mess.
The collection of works he has accumulated can be seen as a fantasy natural history documenting these astonishing monsters. In his relatively recent works, he also attempts to anchor his own visions in his drawings.

Art critic

Toshiki Soma｜相馬 俊樹

Born in 1965. Graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Philosophy, Department of Aesthetics and Art History. Art critic.
Numerous books on the expression of eroticism and fantasy art.