Flower Sand

About Yuma Yanagisawa

Drawn to the glittering, fine-grained materiality and trickling effect of fine, coloured sand, the young media artist Yuma Yanagisawa transforms digitally produced particles of sand into a bewitching play of varying states, a nearly fluid birth and death of a wide range of natural and abstract forms. His grains of sand are the product of a complex computational process and a special program that,

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Drawn to the glittering, fine-grained materiality and trickling effect of fine, coloured sand, the young media artist Yuma Yanagisawa transforms digitally produced particles of sand into a bewitching play of varying states, a nearly fluid birth and death of a wide range of natural and abstract forms. His grains of sand are the product of a complex computational process and a special program that, with the aid of artificial intelligence, propel the continous metamorphosis.

Initially, the sand takes the form of a sunflower possessing an almost van Goghian countenance, only to dissolve into a multitude of little swirls and wave-like movements before briefly coalescing into new flower heads. The transformation happens almost imperceptibly, magically, enchantingly. At the same time, the sand seems to be carried along by a fluid without losing any of its granular and trickling qualities. It glides and swirls, occasionally swinging from one state to the next, softly and unexpectedly transitioning into new forms and colours. The machine algorithm produces an enduring meditative creation of figurative elements.

Yuma Yanagisaw studied in Linz, Nottingham and Tokyo. He is a member of the new and young  generation of digital performative artists who explore the concept of space and the idea of immersive experiences within the analogue realm using a broad range of media. Especially his digital sand images and other linearly modulated abstract moving images bring to mind impressionist painting. Similarly, we can find referencs to modern sculpture that underscore his inclination to a timeless aesthetic.

Stephan Reisner

Exhibitions

2023	Porto Urbano, “Kappa FuturFestival,” Turin, Italy
2023	Madinat Jumeirah, “Art Dubai,” Dubai, UAE
2022	The Stay Boulevard Nisantasi, “Sip & Shop,” Istanbul, Turkey
2022	Blackdove, “The Peace Project,” Miami, USA
2022	Parcel, “Sizeless Twin,” Tokyo, Japan
2022	Burj Park, “WOW Summit,” Dubai, UAE
2021	Kunstkraftwerk, “Bright Festival,” Leipzig, Germany
2021	Unit London, “NFTism,” London, UK
2021	“Digital Art Month | Paris (CADAF),” Paris, France
2020	Lightbox, “CREATIVE CODE FESTIVAL,” New York, USA
2020	Mousonturm, “NODE20 - Node x MUTEK,” Frankfurt, Germany
2020	Spiral, “1GB,” Tokyo, Japan
2019	Plexus Projects, “Vitrine,” New York, USA
2019	Xpace, “Recess,” Toronto, Canada
2019	SXSW, “Trade Show,” Austin, USA
2018	Jerusalem Historical City Hall Building, “ArtBnB Jerusalem 2018,” Jerusalem, Israel
2018	Toronto Media Arts Centre, “ChangeUp Exhibition,” Toronto, Canada
2017	Shibuya Hikarie 8/, “YouFab Global Creative Awards Exhibition,” Tokyo, Japan
2017	Billboard Live Tokyo, “Live Hackasong,” Tokyo, Japan
2016	Reijunkan Gallery, “KENPOKU ART 2016,” Ibaraki, Japan
2015	FabCafe Tokyo, “KENPOKU Art Hack Day,” Tokyo, Japan
2015	3331 Arts Chiyoda, “3331α Art Hack Day 2015,” Tokyo, Japan