PHIL AKASHI
Belgian, born 1978

Phil Akashi is a nomadic artist known for his conceptual and cross-cultural experiments with language, materiality and aesthetics. Phil Akashi works explore, challenge and engage questions relating to the notions of democracy, power, resistance, and cultural identity.  As a vibrant player in the East/West dialogue, his works are critics, sometimes anti-establishment, confrontational, and, at the same time, peaceful and meditative. Self-proclaimed the Alchemist of language, Phil Akashi carved out a unique visual language often combining the use of traditional crafts with techniques of the abstract expressionism and street art movements. Read full biography

GROUP SHOWS AT A MAJOR INSTITUTION

Museum of Modern Art of Algiers (MAMA) - Algiers 2019
National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA) - Taichung 2018           
Venice Arsenale - Arte Laguna Prize (MoCA Italia) - Venice 2017   
European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM) - Barcelona 2016   
Power Station of Art (PSA) - Shanghai 2015   
Opera House - Shanghai 2015
European Parliament - Brussels 2015
Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR) - Brussels 2015

SELECTED REVIEWS BY A MAJOR ART PUBLICATION

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) - New York, USA
China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), Cafa Art Info - Beijing, China
Guggenheim, Friday links - New York, USA
Blouin Artinfo - Seoul, Korea

SELECTED AWARDS

Shortlisted, Hong Kong Human Rights Arts Prize, Hong Kong 2015
Excellence Award Winner, Nanjing International Art Festival, Nanjing 2015
Winner Special Prize Open, Arte Laguna Prize curated by MOCA Italia, Arsenale, Venice 2017
Longlisted, Aesthetica Art Prize, York Art Gallery, York 2018
Major International Public Art Project, Palo Alto Public Art Commission, Palo Alto 2013

SELECTED PROJECTS
 

THE CIRCLE OF TIME
Ink on fine art paper, bamboo, hemp rope, leather, metal, and seal imprints. 4 x 4 x 3,35 m Helutrans Art Space - Singapore 2016 

WISDOM OF HAPPINESS
Ink, gold leaves and acrylic on canvas with Chinese characters: 囍/"Double Happiness", Hong Kong 2015. 78.7"x118.1" / 200x300cm

 RESISTANCE 
Copper and marble vinyl. 380 x 370 x 0,3 cm.
Representing Belgium at Open20, Hotel Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice 2017

LEGEND OF THE DRAGON
Nomadic project across China (Baisha, Hong Kong,…)
2015 - ongoing

SELECTED VIDEO