• Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Watches & Jewellery
  • Culture
  • SUSTAINABILITY
  • Female TV
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Watches & Jewellery
  • Culture
  • SUSTAINABILITY
  • FemaleTV
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Subscribe Now!
  • Also available at:
Privacy Menu 1
  • About Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Contact
  • Conditions of Access
  • PDPA
  • Privacy Policy
SPH Media

MCI (P) 021/12/2023. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2023 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.

  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Watches & Jewellery
  • Culture
  • SUSTAINABILITY
  • Female TV

Culture

Of Nooks And Crannies: Faris Nakamura’s Structures Play On His Fascination With Space

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Culture

Of Nooks And Crannies: Faris Nakamura’s Structures Play On His Fascination With Space

In the fifth edition of our annual Art & Design issue, Keng Yang Shuen spotlights five emerging Singapore-based artists who’ve captured our imagination. And what better way to know their work than by commissioning them to interpret our favourite letter? Here, we meet Faris Nakamura, the artist zeroing in on the physical relationship with space.

by Keng Yang Shuen  /   January 10, 2020

Faris nakamuraWhen viewed head-on, Faris Nakamura’s spare, seemingly minimalist sculptures can appear a tad two-dimensional. But unlike works that may be more immediately attention-grabbing – and to be coarse, Instagram-friendly – his art is best experienced in person. What may not be easily evident are obscured passageways, stairways and various small nooks and crannies that can only be found through active viewing – when viewers take the time and pain to examine the works from different angles.

The line of thought would be to assume his architectural pieces derive from a background in the field. But the Malay-Japanese artist was actually a flautist with the Singapore Youth Wind Orchestra prior to committing full-time to fine arts. A lack of personal space growing up with five siblings led to a growing fascination with certain public spaces (the paraphernalia of HDB blocks such as void decks and stairwells are a recurrent motif) and how people engage them beyond their intended purposes. “I wanted to understand the attachment and detachments people have towards spaces, how these relationships develop and the impact; these (utilitarian) spaces that we so often see as what they are and not what they could (potentially) be.”

Likewise, the structure he created for Female, which took two weeks to craft using wood, acrylic and metal wires, follows the same tender, sociological approach; it is intended to be an invitation for acceptance and inclusion – timely topics which will only continue to snowball. The subtle poignancy in the 31-year-old’s works clearly has an audience, especially given Singapore’s well-known propensity to demolish for progression’s sake. Over the past year alone, he’s staged three solo shows, one of which debuted at the inaugural S.E.A Focus fair last January and promptly sold out. This year, he’ll be unveiling two new exhibitions at Richard Koh Fine Art in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, as well as an exciting project that will reunite his twin loves of art and music – a collaboration with his musician brother, Firdaus Nakamura.

This article first appeared in the January 2020 print issue of FEMALE. 

Like this? Check out Divaagar: the artist reimaging everyday spaces and the self-taught ikebana practitioners of this local space and project curatorial outfit. 

Related Articles

The Campers With A Cause: Lynn And Kim Visudharomn

Meet The New Age “Anti-Muji” Spatial Decorators Behind Wabi Sabi

Divaagar Is The Visual Artist Reimagining Everyday Spaces

https://www.femalemag.com.sg/gallery/culture/faris-nakamura-stucture-artist-public-space/
Of Nooks And Crannies: Faris Nakamura's Structures Play On His Fascination With Space
The stucture Nakamura created exclusively for Female, intepreting the letter 'F'.
image
Somewhere Between No Longer And Not Yet,120 x 90 x 12cm, Matt Enamel on Treated Wood
image
But Let There Be Space For Us To Frolic In this Unlikely Place, 60 x 210 x 50cm, Emulsion on Wood, Acrylic Plastic, Dried Pods, Light
image
If We Stand And Look Up, I wonder What We Will See
image
Amid The Silence, Unquietly We Frolic, In A Place of the Impalpable
image
  • TAGS:
  • artist collaboration
  • faris nakamura
  • minimal
  • minimal sculptures
  • Richard koh Fine Art
SHARE THIS ON

Trending

Culture

A Fashion Stylist's 'Aesthetic' City Guide To Exploring Seoul

Culture

Nicolette Yip Of The Salvages Shares Her Fave Spots Around Ho Chi Minh City

Culture

What is Stan Culture? Five Young Music Fans Explain

Culture

Marisse Caine Captures The Soul Of Singapore's Underground Music Scene

Culture

From Indie Stardom To Enduring Influence: The Ongoing Legacy Of Singapore's Music Legends

Culture

Singapore Music's Visual Storyteller: Aloysius Lim Shares His Insights

Culture

Chris Sim Is The Lensman Of Choice Among Indie Musicians In Singapore

Culture

Meet The New Vanguard Of Singapore Music Of The Post Gen-X Era

Culture

Top 10 Parties And Raves Happening In Singapore In December 2023

Culture

Things To Do In Singapore: Hayao Miyazaki's Last Film Is Here

Culture

Things To Do In Singapore: Blockbuster Exhibitions On Mars And Ho Tzu Nyen & More

Culture

Things To Do In Singapore: National Gallery Singapore Opens A Blockbuster Show On Southeast Asian And Latin American Art

Sponsored Highlights
  • Fashion Discover The Perfect Holiday Gifts For Any Personality At Delfi Orchard
Editor’s Picks
  • Culture A Fashion Stylist's 'Aesthetic' City Guide To Exploring Seoul
  • Fashion Discover The Perfect Holiday Gifts For Any Personality At Delfi Orchard
  • Culture Nicolette Yip Of The Salvages Shares Her Fave Spots Around Ho Chi Minh City
  • Culture What is Stan Culture? Five Young Music Fans Explain
  • Culture Marisse Caine Captures The Soul Of Singapore's Underground Music Scene
  • Culture From Indie Stardom To Enduring Influence: The Ongoing Legacy Of Singapore's ...
Female Newsletter
Sign up for one of our free newsletters to receive the latest news, commentary and fashion features straight from FEMALE.

By submitting my information above and clicking "Subscribe", I confirm I understand and accept SPH Media Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy as amended from time to time.
Footer Menu
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Conditions of Access
  • PDPA
  • Privacy Policy
SPH Media

MCI (P) 021/12/2023. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2023 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.