Floating World Arts brought acclaimed underground Tokyo artists to Australia.

The project included the presentation of an Exhibition at Backwoods Gallery as well as a profile videos and photography of the two remarkable artist.

USUGROW

With mind bending meticulous detail, Usugrow’s work crosses the line between bad ass and refined elegance. While developing his vision and technique, Usugrow worked designing promotional graphics for Japan’s punk and metal scenes, Usugrows unique, stylized combination of traditional Japanese artwork and punk iconography soon made him the visual identity of Tokyo’s underground.

However Usugrows’ global notoriety begun when overseas brands saw the potential for collaborative projects, resulting in a series of collectable products and feature articles in leading counterculture and art publications. A global cult following quickly resulted.

As a conscious leader of his community, Usugrow has been using his fame to organize and promote a new Japanese art movement consisting of a tribe of highly talented artists with roots in the metal, punk, hip hop and tattoos, all of whom share his elegant aesthetics.

This group, known as The Shinganists consists of Usugrow, Mozyskey, Toshikazu Nozaka, Bene & Jun Kaneko and have exhibited collectively and individually across the globe, representing a true and revolutionary art movement.

Motifs of skulls and death are commonly depicted Usugrows black and white artwork, however instead acting as reminders our own mortality, Usugrow endeavors to represent them as symbols of rebirth and beauty.

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TOSHIKAZU NOZAKA

As pro-skateboarder in early 90s and started down the masters path of traditional Japanese tattooing from a very unique perspective, since then collecting almost 20 years of experience.

During this time period Toshikazu also realised the importance of conveying his perspective of Japanese spiritualism to as wide an audience as possible and thus begun working as an artists, exhibiting in several international galleries and amassing a respectable community of high profile collectors.

Toshikazu combines the time honored tradition of Japanese tattoo art with skateboarding, punk and contemporary iconography placing him as amongst Japans most unique contemporary artists.

Toshikazu also heads a Japanese skateboard brand named AsianWave.

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for more information about Usugrow and Toshikazu :
usugrow.com
toshikazu-nozaka.com
shinganist.com

USUGROW – “Nagakei No Kokuten”
Ink On Paper 841mm x 297mm

USUGROW - “Learn A Love By Defining A Hate”
Ink on Paper 594mm x 140mm

USUGROW - ”The Early Years”
Hand Pulled Screen Print, SIlver and Black. 1/150
780mm x 580TOSHIKAZU NOZAKA - “Asianwave Set”
3 Pieces Set Japanese “Sumi” Ink, 24K Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf And Mixed Media On Wood Panel
410mm x 273mm 725mm x 515mm 410mm x 273mm

TOSHIKAZU NOZAKA - “Asianwave”
Japanese “Sumi” Ink, Silver Leaf, Mixed Media On Wood Panel
605mm x 500mm x 60mm

TOSHIKAZU NOZAKA - “True Eyes Skull”
Hand Pulled Screenprint. Signed By Artist. 1 / 100 Original Handmade Wood Framed By Osamu Nozaka
540mm x 380mm