Art is means of travel for me. My creativity was awakened at the age of fifteen when I travelled around Japan. Afterwards, I travelled to the United States, South Korea, Taiwan, and Germany etc…. currently, I have been based in Beijing since 2006.
I received Ph.D from Tokyo University of the Arts in 2002 in Tokyo. My international debut exhibition was, "Storing Wind and Securing Water" at Tsurugi International Art Festival in Kanazawa in 1997. Afterwards, I created twelve sculptures of the sundial at Mogami Environmental Arts Festival '97 Landscape Art Contest in Yamagata. They have become landmarks at rural sites. Both demonstrate the effects of human intervention on things.
I began executing landscape projects that connect nature and the art in a dynamic way. It may sound like only for the moment, however, I am intentionally focusing on the mighty truth of the fact of physical metamorphosis itself.
At the age of 24 I was chosen to be a participating artist in the Kyoto International Art Festival. I have been taking a part in Chinese Biennial, Echigo Tsumari Art Triennial and other international exhibitions since then.
I am best known for my clay sculptures and large-scale earthwork projects exploring the exchange between people and the larger universe. My works incorporating KARESANSUI(traditional Japanese landscape garden) and FUSUI(Chinese feng shui) into contemporary art have won me high international acclaim.
I am interested in relationships with the others. For instance, between nature and people, people and people. I have collaborated with architect, dancer, ecologist and various professionals in my earthwork projects.
My recent earthwork seeks new approaches to natural global environment, while I investigate the fundamental issues of a view of nature in collaboration with scientists, psychologist, and folklorist.
We must protect the global environment through international cooperation.
This latest exhibition will feature new pieces that represent a development of the “Storing Wind and Securing Water” series I displayed at the Chinese Biennial in 2008. I also intend to show drawings made using a clay and water. These will take the form of organic shapes inspired by my own imagination rather than borrowed from actual objects.
“I am constantly thinking about situations in which the sense of the sight and the sense of touch are stimulated simultaneously”
2010 Ph.D. Candidate, The Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
2002 Ph.D., Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan
2007 M.F.A. Candidate, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China
1999 M.F.A., Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan
1997 B.F.A., Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan
2013 - 2014 AURA Director, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan
2010 - 2013 Adjunct Instructor, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan
2009 - 2010 Art Researcher in China, Union Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
2006 - 2009 Art Researcher in China, The Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs, Tokyo, Japan
2005 - 2006 Part-time Instructor, Waseda Industrial Elementary School, Tokyo, Japan
2005 - 2006 Art Researcher, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan
2004 - 2007 Part-time Instructor, Kyoto University of Art and Design, Kyoto, Japan
2002 - 2005 Part-time Instructor, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan
2001 - 2005 Part-time Instructor, Takayama Architectural School, Gifu, Japan
2000 - 2002 Research Assistant, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan
1999 - 2000 Teaching Assistant, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan
■Selected Solo Exhibitions
2005
"Form of Possibility", Youkobo Gallery Project Exhibition
Curator : Hiroko Murata / Youkobo Gallery, Ogikubo, Tokyo, Japan
2002
"Form of Possibility - RIN", Futaba Gallery Project Exhibition
Curator : Shoko Murase / Futaba Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
2002
"Form of Possibility - Why were people born on the earth"
Kanazawa Citizen's Art Center Project Exhibition
Curator : Fujiko Iriguchi / Kanazawa Citizen's Art Center, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
2002
"Form of Possibility - KOKU”
Tokyo University Art Museum - Tokyo University of the Arts, Ueno, Tokyo, Japan
2001
"Form of Possibility - KO/KYU", Futaba Gallery Project Exhibition
Curator : Shoko Murase / Futaba Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
2001
"Form of Possibility - MOE", Wada Fine Arts(Gallery Iseyoshi) Project Exhibition
Curator : Yumie Wada / Wada Fine Arts(Gallery Iseyoshi), Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
2000
"Form of Possibility − NOBE", Futaba Gallery Project Exhibition
Curator : Shoko Murase / Futaba Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
2000
"Satoshi Iwama Plan Exhibition", Pepper's Gallery Project Exhibition
Curator : Hiro Shiraishi / Pepper's Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
■Selected Group Exhibition
2015
"Echigo Tsumari Art Triennial 2015”
Curator : Furamu Kitagawa / Tsubono, Matsunoyama, Niigata, Japan
2015
“ART ICHIHARA 2015”
CCurator : Furamu Kitagawa / Tsukide, Ichihara, Chiba, Japan
2014
“ICHIHARA ART×MIX 2014”
Curator : Furamu Kitagawa / Tsukide, Ichihara, Chiba, Japan
2012
"Echigo Tsumari Art Triennial 2012”
Curator : Furamu Kitagawa / Tsubono, Matsunoyama, Niigata, Japan
2010
”Hi! Sansui”
Curator : Yuna Kanazawa / Korean Cultural Center, Beijing, China
2010
"“Warm Winter”—the Art Exchange Program Touring in 20 Art Zones
Curator : Zhang Wei / Zheng Yang Creative Art Zone, Beijing, China
2009
"Time Zone 0”
Curator : Luo Cai / C-Space, Beijing, China
2009
"Echigo Tsumari Art Triennial 2009”
Curator : Furamu Kitagawa / Tsubono, Matsunoyama, Niigata, Japan
2008
"China, Korea, Japan Contemporary Art Exchange Exhibition”
Curator : Wang Peibo, Lin Shenghuang / Academy of Arts & Desing, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
2008
“ZEROZERO”
Curator : Jiang Jie / The Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
2008
"CHINESE BIENNALE 2008 in BEIJING”
Curator : Pan Xing Lei, Koan Jeff Baysa, Li Shi / KU ART CENTER, Beijing, China
2005
"wanakio 2005”
Curator : Jyun Miyagi, Titus Spree, Emiko Kato / Maejima Art Center, Okinawa, Japan
2005
"WANGSANG - KAITEN Arts Festival”
Curator : Okyung Choi, Shinjung Park / Haslla Art World, Gangneung, Korea
2005
"Voices of Site New York-Tokyo”
Curator : ON(megumi) Akiyoshi / Visual Arts Gallery, Chelsea, N.Y.
2005
"Making School Books from Art”
IKEJIRI INSTITUTE OF DESIGN, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
2005
"Nishiogi Macchi Media Festival 2005”
Curator : Hiroko Murata / Youkobo Gallery, Ogikubo, Tokyo, Japan
2004
"Kuimaru Art Project”
Curator : Masao Yamaguchii / Kuimaru Study Center, Shouwamura, Fukushima, Japan
2004
"Voice of Site Tokyo-Chicago-New York”
Curator : Toyomi Hoshina
Tokyo University Art Museum - Tokyo University of the Arts, Ueno, Tokyo, Japan
Sakamoto Former Sakamoto Elementary School, Ueno, Tokyo, Japan
2003
"Green Space 2 licht/schatten”
Curator : Yoshiaki Watanabe / Hause am Holrn, Weimar,Germany
2003
"ARTOY exhibition”
Curator : ON(megumi) Akiyoshi / Gallery Mouri, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
2002
"Green Space”
Curator : Babara Nemitz / Tokyo University of the Arts(Toride Campus), Ibaraki, Toride, Japan
2002
"Fukazawa Art Project”
Curator : Rie Miura / Metropolitan Komazawa Olimpic Park, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
2002
"News 25”
Tokyo University Art Museum - Tokyo University of the Arts, Ueno, Tokyo, Japan
2002
"Q Peers NY & JAPAN”
Curator : Rie Miura / ALBATROSS Gallery, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
2002
"Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Ph.D. Completion Exhibition”
Tokyo University Art Museum - Tokyo University of the Arts, Ueno, Tokyo, Japan
2000
"The 5th WANGSANG - KAITEN Arts Festival”, Artist in Residence
Curator : Okyung Choi, Shinjung Park / Wangsan Art Center, Wangsan, Korea
2000
"The 5th Contest for the Best Contemporary Art Work 2001”
Curator : Tomohiri Nishimura / Shinkiba SOKO Gallery, Shinkiba, Tokyo, Japan
1999
"RE CYCLING ART PROJECT IN TORIDE”
Curator : Yoshiaki Watanabe / Tonegawa river bottoms, Toride, Ibaraki, Japan
1999
"Kyoto Arts Festival 1999”
Curator : Minoru Otagaki / Chishaku temple, Higashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
1999
"Tokyo University of the Arts, Master’s Completion Exhibition”
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Ueno, Tokyo, Japan
1999
"Tokyo University of the Arts, Private Viewing of Completion Works”
Tokyo University of The Arts(Toride Campus), Toride, Ibaraki, Japan
1999
"Psychological Exhibition”, Pepper's Gallery Project Exhibition
Curator : Hiro Shiraishi / Pepper's Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
1998
"O ZERO Exhibition”, The Nomura Cultural Foundation Project Exhibition
Yokohama Galleria Bellini Hill Gallery, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
1997
"Creation Exhibition 97”
Tokyo University Art Museum - Tokyo University of the Arts(Toride Campus),Ibaraki, Toride, Japan
1997
"Mogami Environmental Arts Festival 97, Landscape Art Contest”
The Shounai Plains, Shinjyo, Yamagata, Japan
1997
"Arts Festival in Tsurugi 97”
Hakusan Temple, Tsurugi, Ishikawa, Japan
1997
"Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate Exhibition”
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Ueno, Tokyo, Japan
1997-
"Tsubono Field Park Project”
Tsubono, Matsunoyama, Niigata, Japan
2013-
“SOSOGI PROJECT” / Sosogi, Kitakata, Fukushima
2013-
“ARS TSUKIDE PROJECT” / Tsukide, Ichihara, Chiba
2012-
“OAM PROJECT”(ONOMICHI AIR MUSEUM) / Onomichi, Hiroshima
2011-
“TAKASU Art Project“ / Takasu, Toride, Ibaraki
2011-2014
“YUINOHAMA Project“ / Momonoura, Ishinomaki, Miyagi
2011-2013
“URATEI Art Project” / Kanda, Tokyo, Japan
2010-
"asia 341 art project” / Korea Art Center, Beijing, China
2005-
"Haslla Art World R-Project” / Haslla Art World, Gangneung, Korea
2005
"Wangsan R-Project” / Art Center, Wangsan, Korea
2002
"Play Park Project", Agency for Cultural Affairs Project / Kanazawa Citizen's Art Center, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
2001-2005
"Hida Takayama Project” / Takayama Architectural School, Takayama, Gifu, Japan
2000
"Tateshina Project 2000” / Tateshina Culture Center, Tateshina, Nagano, Japan
2014
"Contemporary Dance - YOHORO"
Satoshi Iwama as artist collaborating in dance piece choreographed and performance by Matsubara Toyo and KARASHIZUKA, SEPUKU, etc
2012
"Contemporary Dance - TANIGUKU"
Satoshi Iwama as artist collaborating in dance piece choreographed and performance by Matsubara Toyo and KARASHIZUKA.
2011
"Contemporary Dance - MUSUBI"
Satoshi Iwama as artist collaborating in dance piece choreographed and performance by Matsubara Toyo and KARASHIZUKA.
2011
“WASHOI YOISHO"
Group Street Performance by KARASHIZUKA. (sound & dance),
2006
"Contemporary Performance - FUNE"
Satoshi Iwama as artist collaborating in dance piece choreographed and performance by inuit,
Akagi Temple, Tokyo, Japan
2005
"wanakio 2005"
Group Street Performance by Mame Mame Chindon. (sound & dance),
Maejima Art Center, Okinawa, Japan
2005
"Physical Performance"
Work combining a stage designed by Satoshi Iwama with physical performance by Hiroyo Kitao,
Youkobo Gallery, Ogikubo, Tokyo, Japan
2002
"HOURAI Festival"
Group Street Performance by Mame Mame Chindon (sound & dance),
Tsurugi, Ishikawa, Japan
2002
"Form of Possibility - Why were people born on the earth?"
Dance & Live Painting Performance by Satoshi Iwama, Yayoi Sangatsu and Akari Uno,
Exhibition opening and closing events, Kanazawa Citizen's Art Center, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
2002
"Globe"
Work combining a stage designed by Satoshi Iwama with physical performance by Murakami Sangatsu,
Kanazawa Citizen's Art Center, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
2002
"Street Dance Performance"
Work combining a stage designed by Satoshi Iwama with physical performance by Mame Mame Chindon (sound & dance),
Kanazawa Citizen's Art Center, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan, 2002
2014 “ARS TSUKIDE”, Ichihara, Chiba, Japan
Desing & Supervision : Satoshi Iwama
2014 “TAKASU HOUSE“, Toride, Ibaraki
Desing & Supervision : Satoshi Iwama
2012 “URATEI“, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
Desing & Supervision : Satoshi Iwama
2012〜“Tsubono Godown”, Matsunoyama, Tokamachi, Niigata, Japan
Desing & Supervision : Satoshi Iwama
2008 “Studio Zheng Yang“, Beijing, China
Desing & Supervision : Satoshi Iwama
1997〜“Tsubono House“, Matsunoyama, Tokamachi, Niigata, Japan
Desing & Supervision : Satoshi Iwama
2010 "Asahi Shimbun Cultural Foundation Prize",
Asahi Shimbun Cultural Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
2010 "Yoshino Gypsum Art Foundation Prize",
Yoshino Gypsum Art Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
2009 "Union Foundation for Ergodesign Culture Prize", Union Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
2009 "Asahi Shimbun Cultural Foundation Prize",
Asahi Shimbun Cultural Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
2008 "The Chinese Government Overseas Study Program for Artists in China"
2006 "The Japanese Government Overseas Study Program for Artists in China"
2000 "Encouragement Prize" & "Gallery Iseyoshi Prize",
The 5th Contest for the Best Contemporary Art Work 2001, Tokyo, Japan
1999 "Kyoto Arts Festival 1999 Prize", Kyoto Art Festival, Kyoto, Japan
1999 "Takahashi Art Prize", Takahashi Art Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
1998 "The Nomura Cultural Foundation Prize",
The Nomura Cultural Foundation, Kanagawa, Japan
1997 "Mogami Environmental Arts Festival 97 Landscape Art Contest Grand Prize",
Mogami Environmental Arts Festival, Yamagata, Japan
1997 "Arts Festival in Tsurugi 97 Prize", Art Festival Tsurugi, Ishikawa, Japan
1997 "Mr.O Museum Prize", Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan
1994 "Kume Keiichiro Museum Prize", Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan
2013 INTERCONTINENTAL OSAKA, Osaka, Japan
2013 Mandarin Oriental Pudong Shanghai, Shanghai, China
2012 Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai, Shanghai, China
2010 GUANGZHOU UNIVERSITY, Guangzhou, China
2010 China Resources Land, Shenyang, China
2008 Shanghai World Financial Center(MORI Bulding), Shanghai, China
2008 KU ART CENTER, Beijing, China
2005 Haslla Art World, Gangneung, Korea
2002 Kanazawa Citizen's Art Center, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
2000 Wangsan Art Center, Wangsan, Korea
1999 Takara Industries Co.,Ltd, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan