Richard Nadler

Yamabushi's Horizons

Once upon a time in Japan: in conversation with Richard Nadler

Izanami Islands

Richard Nadler frequently visited Japan with his father in his youth. The process of reading Katsushika Hokusai's "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" while he was in Okinawa served as a source of inspiration for his creative endeavours, kindling fantasies of mythological stories that were intertwined with the ocean and the islands. 

The Japanese islands unfolded in his thoughts like a cinematic creation, complete with waves, beaches, volcanic landscapes, jungles, architecture, and coastlines. He was able to experience all of these things. These dreams made their way into his artworks with the assistance of artificial intelligence.

The story of Izanami and Izanagi, the siblings who sculpted the Japanese islands according to mythology is heartfelt and fraught with symbolism. It serves as the foundation for this series of work, which investigate the concepts of creation, mortality, and the repercussions of interfering with the divine presence.