Meet Masaya Nakayama: Artist, Painter & Ecoactivist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Masaya Nakayama and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Masaya, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Since I was little, painting was the only way to express myself. However when thinking about future, the most of my friends said we can not make enough money with art. I also knew that Japanese art market is too small so I betrayed myself. I became a teacher for junior high in Japan. To be honest, I was originally interested in education, so it became a very meaningful teacher life. I learned a lot of things from students. when I told them about importance of having dream, the words came back to me. I decided to show in my action. It was when I was 29years old. At the time,I couldn’t speak English at all. New challenge in New York as an artist was pretty scared for me but Their’s pure eyes also pushed my back. Now they are also grown up, and we are still keeping in touch. Sometime they ask me about their future. now I answer, “Believe in yourself and do what you want to do”

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Masaya Nakayama, born in 1983. Graduated from Osaka University of Arts, Department of Fine Arts Painting in 2005. After studying education as an art teacher at a public junior high school in Osaka, moved to the US in 2012. Currently based in Brooklyn and presenting works at galleries and museums in Japan and overseas. Actively engaged in educational activities such as nursery art design and holding workshops not only for children but also for adults. I am also founder of the “Coperus”, a Japanese artist collective based in New York and Tokyo. “For the children,” the sole reason this artist group has come together and formed Coperus in 2018. We face and fight the modern day problems head on in hopes of leaving a brighter future for the next generation. My recent works is a series of works that dig up and reexamine things likely in the process of being buried in our perception. Usually, I used not only our casual daily scenery but also some issues we have as motifs. For example energy and environmental problems or Human rights are some of the most important global subjects that our generation is facing. Sometimes I find myself I am faced with a reality lacking realness and living in a state of shallow relationships. As various news and information overflows one after another, the concept of distance and time is disappearing in our way of communication and connection with people. I find myself busy in a life of grasping and escape from this – leaving no time to face each thing carefully. Almost unconsciously, you reach for your phone and look at problems and situations occurring in the world. I detect something going on, but before I can ascribe any meaning to it, new information follows one after the next. When the screen is refreshed with new news, little thought is left for the problem at hand. Isn’t this simply an act done so you’re not left feeling out of place? In other words, the feeling is opposite the experience of seeing an impressionable drawing, or a painting with emotion imbued in it, but more like casually tracing a photo to arrive at a rough contour. Ay first grace, My works looks like a white line is drawn on top of the painting, but in reality, the line is created by carefully leaving “white” from the original canvas. Using this technique, I try uncovering the meaning of a piece of information, picture, or encounter, and make an attempt to digest “things as they really are” on my own. What’s being conveyed is this act.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Brooklyn, which is a lovely area in New York. I love people who living here, and their unique cultures. However sometime NewYork life gives me a hard time to survive as an artist. Usually i spend the most of my time in my art studio. when I take a break, I always go to the rooftop of the building. The view from there is amazing. You can get the full view of Manhattan’s skyline.　Depend on the season, time and whether, they totally change the face. The place always accepted me even through my difficult times and fun times. If my best friend visits to Brooklyn, I will definitely take them to there and want to drink Brooklyn Brewery’s beer (my favorite, I collaborated with them ) together.The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I strongly agree with the corporate spirit of patagonia.

Website: masayanakayama.com

Instagram: @msynkyma

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhkZyPWD4CY

Other: Coperus (artist collective) https://www.coperus-kids.com/