NEW YORK, NY.- At the brush of Hayaki Nishigaki (b. 1985), the iconic monster Godzilla becomes a contemporary motif explored across traditional painting techniques. From the aftermath of WWII to the environmental crises of today, the King of Monsters functions as a vessel for societal woes and national consciousness throughout Nishigaki’s work. While constant in form, this monster is ever evolving in meaning as he storms through different formats, historical themes, and artistic techniques. Rendered in gold-embellished nihonga (Japanese-style painting) and monochrome sansuiga (paintings of idealized landscapes), Nishigaki’s uses Godzilla to bring “to light what is internalized in society” with a touch of irony. The exhibition Hayaki Nishigaki: A Monster of Our Own Making will begin with a public opening reception with the artist on July 11th from 5 p.m.-7 p.m at Ronin Gallery.

Ronin Gallery welcomes Hayaki Nishigaki to New York City as the winner of the fifth annual Ronin Globus OnBeat Artist-in-Residence Program. Based at Studio Haidenban in Kyoto since 2015, Hayaki Nishigaki holds an MFA in painting from Kyoto University of Art and Design. He directed the Kyoto Sento Arts Festival in 2014 and completed a residency program at the Qatar Museum in Doha in 2022. Our distinguished panel of judges chose Nishigaki from more than 150 applicants based on three criteria: artistic excellence, clarity of concept, and originality. This year’s first runner up, Toru Ishii (b. 1981), will be recognized with a selection of his vivid Itome Yuzen dyed textiles on view through July and August.

Hosted jointly by Ronin Gallery, Globus Washitsu, and ONBEAT Magazine, the annual Ronin Globus OnBeat Artist-in-Residence Program seeks to stimulate cross-cultural dialogue by providing the opportunity for Japanese visual artists to live, work and exhibit in New York City. In addition to the solo exhibition and opening reception at Ronin Gallery, Hayashi Nishigaki will engage in multiple events at both Ronin Gallery and Globus Washitsu, including residency hours held in the gallery each week, a studio visit, formal tea ceremonies held at Globus Washitsu, and more. Following Nishigaki’s return to Japan, he will receive a dedicated editorial in ONBEAT Magazine.

Ronin Gallery is one of the world’s leading dealers in Japanese woodblock prints and home to one of the largest collections of 17th-21st century Japanese prints in the United States. Founded in 1975 in the Explorers Club Mansion of New York City, the gallery is now located in the historic Engineer’s Club at Bryant Park Place.

Ronin Gallery
Hayaki Nishigaki: A Monster of Our Own Making
July 11th, 2023 - August 18th, 2023