Shigeyuki Kihara

Shigeyuki Kihara is an artist and independent curator who is interested in ways that art, performance and the public interact and prompt discussions towards understanding the complexities of humanity. A selection of her works have achieved iconic status and have been critically discussed in diverse areas of academia both in New Zealand and internationally.

Kihara’s work has been represented in a number of international contemporary art survey exhibitions, amongst others, the 4th Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (AUS) and the 4th Auckland Triennial (NZ). Kihara’s first solo museum exhibition in North America entitled Shigeyuki Kihara; Living Photographs (2008-09) was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York following the acquisition of her works by the museum for their permanent collection.

Kihara’s solo and group exhibitions have been presented internationally including at de Young Fine Art Museum of San Francisco (USA); Museum of Contemporary Art (AUS); Campbelltown Arts Centre (AUS); 4a Centre for Contemporary Asian Art (AUS); Gallery of Modern Art (AUS); National Gallery of Victoria International (AUS); Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand; Auckland Art Gallery (NZ); Gus Fisher Gallery University of Auckland (NZ); City Gallery Wellington (NZ); Shanghai Zendai Museum of Modern Art (China); Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts (Taiwan); National Museum of Poznan, Warsaw (Poland) and Centro Ricerca Arte Attuale (Italy).

Kihara’s performances have been staged at, amongst others, Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand; Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin; Musee du Quai Branly, Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

In 2008, Kihara was selected as one of five “path-breaking artists” by Art Asia Pacific Almanac magazine alongside Mike Parr, NS Harsha, Kimsooja and Huang Yong Ping.

Kihara’s signature performance video work entitled Taualuga; the last dance (2006) is currently exhibited in a new acquisitions exhibition entitled ‘Collecting Contemporary’ held at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand. Kihara was most recently commissioned to produce a new video work which premiered in the group exhibition entitled ‘Home AKL’ held at the Auckland Art Gallery in July 2012.

Examples of Kihara’s work can be found in selected permanent collections internationally including Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand; Auckland Art Gallery (NZ); Gus Fisher Gallery University of Auckland (NZ); Govett-Brewster Art Gallery (NZ); Massey University (NZ); Queensland Art Gallery (AUS); Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (AUS); University of Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (UK); Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre (New Caledonia) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Kihara’s work is also held in a number of private collections internationally, including that of Giorgio Armani.

Source: shigeyukikihara.wordpress.com
Image: Govett-Brewster Gallery