Nagakura's organic, contemporary pieces are rooted in the functional baskets and flower arranging vessels made for centuries in Japan but also borrow from wide-ranging sources, including the richly material paintings of Anselm Kiefer and the rough-hewn statues made by the itinerant 17th century Buddhist monk Enku. However, throughout the entirety of his career, Nagakura’s primary inspiration has been the natural world. “For me, inspiration comes from the workings of nature, both large and small, near and distant,” the artist states. “My desire is to share with other human beings the silent voice of nature.”
