Kousuke Iizawa

　　Consciousness Acting in Concert with Water

　　　How should water be defined ? (What is water?) There is water everywhere; in fact, we ourselves
　　are made of water. We consume a lot of water as a part of everyday life, and nature ensures that it
　　surrounds us. Taking on every possible shape, water circulates as a liquid, as well as taking the form
　　of vapor on the earth. It is indeed very similar to what is happening inside our bodies. Within us
　　water flows through our blood circulating throughout the whole of our body, and through our skin
　　evaporates as sweat. In other words, water never stops being fluid; it is constantly changing its state
　　and always moving around. Without a doubt there is nothing more influential on our lives than water,
　　we are entirely dependent on it. Nonetheless, it is still difficult to answer the question 'What is water?'
　　　When we think about this question, some people's answers might be; ocean, river or rain. These
　　replies are just examples referencing earth's aquatic environment, all of which consist of but are not of
　　themselves water. If psychological states or personal experience are taken into account, then the
　　answers might be more complex, for example; purification, impurities, wonder, awe, comfort, and so
　　on. However, our experience may well correspond to water in such a way that it is beyond our
　　physical body when we confront the issue of water. Although we cannot give an answer to the
　　question of what water is, we seem to know the answer unconsciously.
　　　Visitors are able to access my art works directly, art works which are, in fact, predicated upon water.
　　The water ripples, which are generated by touching the water suspended overhead, are projected onto the
　　 floor by light. The ripples before us are a transformed aquatic state, and we must confront this altered
　　state until it returns to its default state of rest. Although the viewer is active in terms of subjectively
　　attributing meaning to the moving water, he or she is passive until the ripples dissipate.
　　I think that during any contemplation of a water installation, it can recall within us our unconscious feelings
　　towards water. It can also, depending upon the person. project the observers state of mind. The water might be
　　gushing wildly, or trembling less violently, or simply in repose, quiet and still, based on a person's inclination to
　　touch, or not to touch the art works. It depends on that person and on how their mood takes (effects) them.
　　Consequently, it also shows people as themselves, as individuals, as different minds interacting with water.
　　　Japan is an island country and as such has ample water, it is literally surrounded by water.
　　Consequently, we Japanese have grown up with a natural sensibility towards water because of this
　　environment, a sensibility which is driven by many differing aspects concerning water. We have, for
　　example, many old sayings which use the word water, and also over the years water has become the
　　central theme of traditional Japanese painting. The Japanese ink paintings known as suibokuga [lit.
　　water ink pictures] are just one traditional method of expression which for centuries has been
　　inseparable from the influence of water. Traditionally, the people of Japan recognize the existence of
　　water and might have been unconsciously aware of the way it synchronizes our body.
　　　I hope that my own interpretations through my works of art may be used as inspiration for individuals
　　to contemplate the existence of water within themselves.

　　Kohzuke Iizawa
　　1965 　Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

　　Education & Experience:
　　1992 　Graduated from Sculpture Course of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts & Music
　　　　　　Traveled to India and Nepal
　　1994 　Graduated from Postgraduate Program of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts & Music

　　Solo Exhibitions:
　　1996 　Water SIde　Akiyama Gallery (Kanda, Tokyo)
　　1997 　Tide　Gallery Yamaguchi (Kyobashi, Tokyo)
　　1998 　Deep　Gallery Qs (GInza, Tokyo)
　　1999 　yodominishizumu utakata (Bubble Sinking Down in the Stagnation)　KeyGallery (Ginza.Tokyo)
　　　　　　Watery Dream　300days Gallery (Aoyama, Tokyo)
　　2000 　Tide Pool　Moris Gallery (Ginza, Tokyo)
　　2001 　Absence　T.L.A.P (Aoyama, Tokyo)
　　2003 　Circles　GALERIE SOL (Ginza, Tokyo)

　　Group Exhibitions:
　　1999 　Pride. Satisfaction-IV　21+an Leaf (Ginza, Tokyo)
　　　　　　Art Invite Public Contribution 2000 Received Examiner Awards　Shinkiba Soko Gallery (Shinkiba, Tokyo)
　　 2000　Taro Okamoto Contemporary Memorial Award Exhibition　National Olympic Center (Yoyogi, Tokyo)
　　　　　　Like water existence here　Toyoshina Modern Museum of Art (Nagoya)
　　 2001　The Library 2001　Gallery Sowaka (Kyoto)

　　KOHSUKE IIZAWA is an installation artist and essayist working with primary materials of water, light and
　　space. Visitors are able to access his work directly and initiate a dialog that invites them to transcend the
　　level of metaphor and proceed to visualize a state of mind. He exhibition in Japan, and this is his first
　　exhibition in the U.S.