Icosahedron Gallery , New York

"Contemplation"
Acrylic on canvas
90 x 116 cm
2008

Delving deeper into the symbiosis of the figurative and abstract art worlds ...

Exhibiting an abstract expressionistic quality as well, lies the works of Nicolás Nishiky, a Peruvian artist based out of Spain. Nishiky’s figurative works are bold and provocative pieces that use gestured brushwork and exaggerated proportions to shed light on the plight of man in today’s time and society.(...)

Robert Berry

Director | Senior Curator

Icosahedron Gallery , New York

http://www.icosahedrongallery.org

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Nicolas Nishiky

"Search Dreams"

In the beautiful tradition of early twentieth century Expressionism, Nicolas Nishiky’s figurative work, with the group name of ‘Search Dreams’, are images of men full of presence, volume and stature.

Proportions are tested, colors are bold and contrasting, positive/negative relationships are pushed and pulled leaving the remaining portrait to combat and embrace shadow and void. The relative simplicity of composition is balanced and compensated by the turbulent treatment of paint and subject. These men are not simply figures in space, but men of mass and substance…they have life and will which is explored and described by the intense physicality of the act of painting. The viewer is left to ponder who these beings are…friends, strangers, lovers…or a combination of all three? Or Nishiky himself.

The paintings force the viewer to consider the balance between image and media. Are we looking at the subjects through the paint, or is the paint creating the subjects? This relationship between the subject and the material is the crux of all great painting, from Rembrandt to Kirchner to Rothenberg. Nishiky does not back down from the question. He embraces his painterliness as he embraces his subjects. These are men, these are paintings…and they work as one.

Paul Lorenz

Academy of Art University San Francisco, California

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Nicolas Nishiky

The work of Nicolas Nishiky is intriguing to say the least. Dealing with the human body, Mr. Nishiky addresses human emotion through color and gestured brushwork, clearly being influenced by the modern masters with color choice and exaggerated proportions.

Majority of his figures are drawn in black using a variety of linear weights emphasizing certain areas of the figure. This allows the figure to occupy space as it comes forward and back creating atmosphere. That atmosphere is also established by the glowing colors of his surroundings or the negative space. Unfair to call this space negative simply because of the interests it creates in his paintings. This can either be a luminous glow or an orchestra of moving marks adding spontaneity in the painting.

The vigorous brush marks add to the feeling or emotion controlling the painting. Still unclear to the viewer what the figure is feeling but provocative to the individual letting the single viewer to relate to the particular painting. Definitely Mr. Nishiky is an impasto painter, painting wet into wet allowing the colors to mix on the canvas or paper executing a harmonious composition. Very informal with his approach again relating to the abstract expressionist, Nicolas still achieves form and content but giving us a soul such as William deKooning or even Modigliani did in the early 1900’s. That soul is the narrative we are intrigued with, wondering, absorbing and analyzing the message. Again what is the message? Different outcomes for the viewer depending on their mood, thoughts and background will determine that message.

Nicolas Nishiky is a bold confident painter living and dealing with today’s issues but leaving us paintings that are timeless. Timeless to viewers of any age, place, backgrounds, sex and beliefs providing us with either the solution or problem we face in today’s world.

Jason D. Zimmer

Professor of Art

Savannah College of Art and Design

Georgia- United States