Final year project
the gap between you and me
Kengo Brown, "sixteen" from "the gap between you and me” series, 2022, Oxidated steel rods, paper rope, wire and epoxy resin.
The paper rope figure is leaning in on a corner of the wall with straight metal rods beside it seem to be cornering and intimidating the figure. The key point is that the paper rope figure is being soaked with resin which alters the material’s nature from being soft and malleable to hard and rigid. When both the paper rope and metal elements are viewed together it highlights the figure's ‘untruthfulness’ to its own material, “trying to become something else” as well as the contrasting form of loops disrupting the flow of the line, compared to a straight boldly-standing metal rod. I was interested in the idea of delivering the narrative through the alteration of one's nature to mask a different identity.
Kengo Brown, "sixteen too" from "the gap between you and me” series, 2022, Graphite and acrylic.
Connecting to the sculpture "sixteen" the painting installation represents the separated sculpture's shadow. This notifies the viewers of the "gap" between self-perception and peer perception of myself in the form of a physical object and a shadow. As the sculpture is what both the self and peer perceive but the remaining shadows are what the peers either miss, disregard or ignore but are just as important as the physical object to be recognised, documented and take up a physical space equally as other people.
Kengo Brown, "twenty two" from "the gap between you and me” series, 2022, Welded oxidated steel rods.
Another sculpture from "the gap between you and me” series.
Kengo Brown, Private viewing, 2021, Digital Image.
An early response to the theme of self-realisation, looking into the complex construction of interconnecting identity using duplicated selves in a gallery setting interacting with each other and an abstracted portrait painting.
Kengo Brown, im white boy haha, 2021, Digital image.
Another early response to the theme of conflict between two separate identities within the artist of British and Japanese descent, using mockery to criticise imposed Western beauty standards invading Asian communities.
Kengo Brown
Final year project
the gap between you and me
Work Experience
I have completed a summer internship in 2021 at Ikon Gallery in Birmingham with the curation department, witnessing the process of creating an exhibition from a curator's perspective. It was my responsibility to update artists, gallery photographers, and other galleries' essential information prior to the exhibition, organise exhibition catalogue distribution, and create transcriptions for audio work, artist interviews and press conferences. Utilising my knowledge gained from the Art Management courses from university and critical thinking, I managed to quickly pick up what needed to be done for each situation. In addition, I faced a challenge in arranging travel for the artist based overseas while COVID-19 restrictions were still in effect, for them to safely arrive in the UK including searching for a second vaccination for the artists and assisting in preparing valid documents prior to their return. This was during a very short time period which strengthened my time management and organisation skills significantly.
I have had the opportunity to work as an assistant for artist Mit Jai Inn, during his residency at the School of Arts in Birmingham City Univerisity in September 2021. While the artist is known for his colourful acrylic paintings on layered canvases, a few of the artworks produced in for the exhibition were made in the metal workshop. There I recieved guidance and training in welding, forging and rolling which I have managed to apply to my own practice in creating my sculpture figures. Also, the work scheduling between myself and the artist enhanced my organisation skills to meet deadlines for the work process to be passed on to the next step. The artist gave a part of the work for me to complete independently which also tested my creative thinking to "express" something very abstract.
Additionally at Ikon Gallery, I have been involved in the installation process for Mit Jai Inn's Dreamworld exhibition, 2021 through the Ikon Youth Programme. It was my job to support the installation team by transporting and installing artwork, communicating curational updates or changes between the artist and the installation team, and painting the walls of specific exhibition spaces. I was able to get an insight into the physical labour and technicality that goes behind the installation which enhanced my knowledge and curiosity for curation and installation. My teamwork skills have definitely improved during this period as well as my communication skills with the team promptly and efficiently with a deadline to meet.