Ko Nakajima

Ko Nakajima

Nakajima Ko began his career in experimental animation with the creation of works such as Seizoki (1964). At his solo exhibition at the Sogetsu Art Center, a space for avant-garde art in 1960s Tokyo, he produced Seizoki by painting directly on the film between screenings. His perennial interest in integrating new technologies, exploring the potential of film, video, and eventually computer animation, joined his desire to explore human intersections with nature, as seen in his Biological Cycle series (1971-); he created the first work in the series, Biological Life (1971-), by copying manipulated film footage onto video, then further manipulating the work with a video synthesizer. In 1971, Nakajima established Video Earth Tokyo, the pioneering video-art collective. Nakajima used one of the earliest available portable video recorders to document Video Earth Tokyo performance pieces and teach the new technology. Video Earth Tokyo members created works, broadcast works on cable television, and participated in international exhibitions and emergent CG (computer graphics) conferences. In 1982, Nakajima introduced his Aniputer. Aniputer technology allowed wide access to creation of video animation, as this personal portable computer integrated with a video camera, developed in collaboration with Japan Victor Company (JVC), allowed any user to directly manipulate video and images on a screen, creating animations in real time. Nakajima used his expertise manipulating film, photography, and video with computer technology to create what is perhaps his best known work, Mt. Fuji (1984), a ninety-minute rhythmic meditation on nature, spirituality, and perspective. Nakajima has produced works in France, Canada, New Zealand, and Denmark. Representative works include Biological Cycle series (1971-), My Life series (1976-), Mt. Fuji (1984), and Dolmen (1987). His works are in permanent collections internationally, including in Centre Georges Pompidou (France), The Museum of Modern Art (U.S.), Long Beach Museum of Art Video Archive (U.S.), and the Getty Research Institute Special Collections (U.S.).

  • Title: Ko Nakajima
  • Popularity: 1.112
  • Known For: Directing
  • Birthday: 1941-01-01
  • Place of Birth: Kumamoto, Japan
  • Homepage: https://www.collabjapan.org/ko-nakajima
  • Also Known As:
img

Ko Nakajima Movies

  • 1975
    imgMovies

    A Graveyard and Beggar

    A Graveyard and Beggar

    1 1975 HD

    A work of Video Earth Tokyo, it is an interview with a homeless who lived in the Aoyama cemetery. Photography by Michael Goldberg.

    img
  • 1989
    imgMovies

    Waveforms: Video/Japan

    Waveforms: Video/Japan

    1 1989 HD

    Art Com Video #2. A collection of video and performance art mostly from Japan (one is from a Canadian Artist and the piece is about Japan) and...

    img
  • 1974
    imgMovies

    Under a Bridge

    Under a Bridge

    1 1974 HD

    In this tape, Ko Nakajima and Video Earth Tokyo interview a homeless man. The subject is initially angry and frustrated, but gradually opens up and...

    img
  • 1970
    imgMovies

    Early Work of Video Earth: Izu Shimoda CATV/ Hokkaido Ikeda CATV

    Early Work of Video Earth: Izu Shimoda CATV/ Hokkaido Ikeda CATV

    1 1970 HD

    A document of the nascent collective Video Earth's activities relating to the programming, operation and organisation of cable access television...

    img
  • 1987
    imgMovies

    Dolmen

    Dolmen

    1 1987 HD

    A work produced in Brittany, France, with funding from the French government and employing local CG artists, the main subject is the Stonehenge.

    img
  • 1984
    imgMovies

    Mt. Fuji

    Mt. Fuji

    1 1984 HD

    A seven minute rhythmic meditation on nature, spirituality, and perspective.

    img
  • 1988
    imgMovies

    Rangitoto

    Rangitoto

    1 1988 HD

    A sequel to Dolmen, the work features Rangitoto, a volcano in New Zealand that resembles Mount Fuji. Produced in New Zealand, the project was funded...

    img
  • 1976
    imgMovies

    My Life

    My Life

    1 1976 HD

    This work was started in 1967 as a documentation of Nakajima’s life. The footage was edited into a single piece for the first time in 1974, in...

    img
  • 1971
    imgMovies

    Horizon

    Horizon

    1 1971 HD

    This work was created to commemorate the reversion of Okinawa to Japan.

    img
  • 1975
    imgMovies

    Shinkansen Researching Foods

    Shinkansen Researching Foods

    1 1975 HD

    A work of Video Earth Tokyo. Carrying in the rice cooker to the Shinkansen (express train), the group cooked rice between Tokyo and Nagoya. As the...

    img
  • 1990
    imgMovies

    Esprits de Sel

    Esprits de Sel

    1 1990 HD

    This work features the salt marshes of Montpellier France, and uses computer graphics to create fantastical imagery.

    img
  • 2014
    imgMovies

    Dance of the Dead

    Dance of the Dead

    1 2014 HD

    Made at the sites of the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, this work is a collaboration with Butoh danceter Takumi Harada. The work is currently...

    img
  • 2019
    imgMovies

    The Rooms in the Photographs — Ko Nakajima’s Rooms

    The Rooms in the Photographs — Ko Nakajima’s Rooms

    1 2019 HD

    The Rooms in the Photographs — Ko Nakajima’s Rooms Directed by Ko Nakajima, Photography by Hitoshi Kubo and Yosuke Nakagawa. Edited by...

    img
  • 1971
    imgMovies

    Under a Tree...

    Under a Tree...

    1 1971 HD

    A feminine crossdresser explores their sexuality.

    img
  • 1975
    imgMovies

    Shadow

    Shadow

    1 1975 HD

    A political work in which Ko Nakajima opposes himself to the Vietnam War.

    img
  • 1973
    imgMovies

    Film Scramble

    Film Scramble

    1 1973 HD

    Early experiment by Ko Nakajima.

    img
  • 1970
    imgMovies

    Documentation of Osaka Expo '70

    Documentation of Osaka Expo '70

    1 1970 HD

    The document, which splices together footage from both Osaka and Montreal, offers a rare comparative insight into the two events. It is believed to...

    img
  • 1971
    imgMovies

    Biological Cycle No. 2

    Biological Cycle No. 2

    1 1971 HD

    The series, based on the first 16mm film that was shot in a studio with Nakajima’s family and birds, moves through media and processing...

    img
  • 1971
    imgMovies

    Biological Cycle No. 3

    Biological Cycle No. 3

    1 1971 HD

    The series, based on the first 16mm film that was shot in a studio with Nakajima’s family and birds, moves through media and processing...

    img
  • 1963
    imgMovies

    Anapoko

    Anapoko

    1 1963 HD

    After graduating from Tama University of Arts, Nakajima made this work with the intention of submitting to the Sogetsu Animation Festival. Without...

    img
  • 1971
    imgMovies

    Biological Cycle No. 1

    Biological Cycle No. 1

    1 1971 HD

    img
  • 1982
    imgMovies

    Biological Cycle No. 5

    Biological Cycle No. 5

    1 1982 HD

    The series, based on the first 16mm film that was shot in a studio with Nakajima’s family and birds, moves through media and processing...

    img
  • 1964
    imgMovies

    Seizoki

    Seizoki

    1 1964 HD

    This is an animation using the “Kaki-mation” technique. This piece can be shown as a multiscreen piece with 3 screens.

    img