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The 50th artist room was created by artist Wakako Kawakami & Nagisa Nakauchi. The production is completed on October, 2025.
Room #3423 | Completion Date: 2025.10
Escape completely from the worries of everyday life!
The “Utopia in Japan” artist room, relaxing in a peaceful world inspired by the traditional Japanese aesthetic of birds and flowers—symbolizing the beauty of nature and the changing of the seasons.In this space, surrounded by the happy pink color of cherry blossoms. The soft, pure white parakeets play freely in this dream-like garden. Artist Nagisa Nakauchi painted Yae-sakura (eight-fold cherry blossoms), depicting their natural branches, which have been loved in Hanami (flower viewing) for over 1,000 years since the Heian period.In this rich and peaceful Yae-sakura world, the white parakeets live safely. These parakeets were created by artist Wakako Kawakami from pure white cloth. Each creation is full of individuality, but in this artwork, they live together in harmony. Spending time in this happy pink and white space, feeling like becoming one with the parakeets — as if part of this utopia. We hope that one day, this kind of peaceful world will spread outside the room as well.
Text: Curator Patron Project Mai Kikuchi
Born in Osaka, currently lives in Tokyo
Completed the Post-Graduate Course (Fine Arts) of Musashino Art University, Junior College of Art and Design, Department of Fine Arts in 1992. She began presenting her own exhibitions in 1995. Since then, She has made a name for herself with numerous large-scale fabric installations, including human figures (“Hitogata”), life-sized dolls modeled after herself, and dandelion motifs. She works alone in her studio and continues to create prolifically every day. In recent years, her signature projects have featured immersive environments inhabited by flocks of life-sized budgerigars (parakeets). Selected for the 2nd Taro Okamoto Award for Contemporary Art. Recent major exhibitions include the solo exhibition “Pico and Peeta” (2024 / @btf / Tokyo), “Semijikan – Parakeets’ Excursion” (2019 / Kakurin Temple / Hyogo), “Rokko Meets Art 2018” (Hyogo), “Art Line Kashiwa 2018 – Smiling” (Chiba), and the solo exhibition “Winter Festival” (2015 / Park Hotel Tokyo 25F / Tokyo).
“Parakeets are birds that naturally live in flocks; it’s said that a single parakeet on its own grows too lonely to bear. Drawn as if by the allure of a beautiful garden of Yae-sakura (eight-fold cherry blossoms), they fluttered down and transformed into pure white forms. These parakeets have no faces. I chose not to give them eyes, noses, or mouths because I didn’t want to impose my own intentions on them. Even though each bird is made using the same method, simply by standing there together they all seem to have different expressions, as if something unique is emanating from their backs. I respect the will of these parakeets and entrust all that is important to the works themselves. I hope that the time guests spend in this room will lead to smiles tomorrow.”
A painter who draws on old books.
She spent her early childhood in Argentina, where she developed a fascination with foreign cultures and landscapes.
Through her travels to various countries, she taught herself sketching.
She continues to travel the world and creates art only from things that move her heart.
Graduated from the Department of Spanish, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.
Starting with a solo exhibition in Paraguay, she has held solo exhibitions at Isetan Shinjuku Main Store Art Gallery, the National Gallery of the Children’s Museum (Costa Rica), the Embassy of Spain in Japan, Ivy Brown Gallery (New York), LOEWE Ginza Main Store, Instituto Cervantes Tokyo, and Shimada Museum Gallery. She is also the author of Sketch-Traveling Spain (published by Ediman), among other works.
Hanami (flower viewing) has existed in Japan since the Heian period (794–1185).Even in those distant times, Yae-sakura (eight-fold cherry blossoms) bloomed and fascinated people.I have recreated that same sakura experience—one that Japanese people have cherished and found joy in for over a thousand years.I hope you can feel what it’s like to be right in the midst of happiness, surrounded by sakura.May this room be a place where happiness gently falls upon each and every guest.