Nobuo Kubota

Nobuo was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1932. He currently lives and works in Toronto, Ontario.

Creator Id: 343
Virtual Collection: Original CCCA
Country of Birth: Canada
Province of Birth: British Columbia
Year of Birth: 1932
City: Toronto
Country: Canada
Type of Creator: Artist
Gender: Male
Mediums: drawing, installation, performance, sculpture
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Video

Kubota: Symmetry

Description: Symmetry Les œuvres les plus récentes de Kubota s’appuient de nouveau sur ses antécédents en architecture. Ces sculptures sont réellement des « enquêtes dans la structure » où les objets peuvent se transformer de multiples différentes façons. La répétition et la symétrie sont à la base de ces formes. Après la période cubiste et au début de la période moderniste, la symétrie était « oubliée ou même désapprouvée », mais Kubota « aimerait la raviver ». symmetry.flv / durée : 3:27 © CCCA / Linda Corbett 2007

Info: Symmetry

Summary: Exploration of Architecture as Sculpture: The artist discusses his return to architecture, not as a practical or theoretical endeavor, but as a form of sculpture. He explains his interest in structures that are transformative and highly experimental, drawing parallels with children's Transformers toys. This exploration aims to revive appreciation for symmetry and repetition in architecture, which he feels were overlooked with the advent of modernism.

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Kubota: Phonic

Description: Phonic In this clip Kubota explains how the idea of "intermedia" originated by Samuel Taylor Coleridge has had an effect on his work. Intermedia is the "movement of an idea from one form, continuing into another form". With that in mind, he describes the transformation of his sculpture Phonic Loaf, into Phonic Slices, then into Phonic Rubbings, and finally into a vocal score. Likewise, the piece Deep Text "became a moving score" depending on the viewer's point of view. In Phonic Traces, Kubota physically deconstructed the alphabet assigning new sounds to each of the fragmented letters, which he then proceeded to sing.. phonic.flv / running time: 6:46 © CCCA / Linda Corbett 2007

Info: Phonic

Summary: Concept of Intermedia in Artistic Practice: The video delves into the artist's exploration of intermedia, a concept that involves transitioning ideas across multiple forms of media. He details the transformation of a sculptural piece into various artistic expressions, including physical modifications and sound interpretations. This approach exemplifies his philosophy of continuous transformation in art, allowing a single concept to evolve and be reinterpreted through different media.

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Kubota: Performance

Description: Performance In this rare recorded clip, Nobuo Kubota treats us to an original improvisational sound performance piece. A combination of chanting and scat, Kubota's unique musical style has been called sound poetry, and sound singing. He prefers to call himself a vocalist. No two of his performances are the same. performance.flv / running time: 7:04 © CCCA / Linda Corbett 2007

Info: Performance

Summary: Exploration of Multimedia Art Forms: Unfortunately, the transcript for this video contains only repeated non-verbal music sections (notated as "[Musik]"), and therefore does not provide any information or narrative to summarize.

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Kubota: Music

Description: Music A major part of Nobuo Kubota's creative work has been his multimedia approach to music. Beginning with the Artist's Jazz Band founded by Dennis Burton in 1962, this group of visual artists took their favorite jazz pieces and reproduced them "as abstract expressionism". Next he was involved in the foundation of the CCMC (Canadian Creative Music Collective) and the Music Gallery, in the 1970's. But after a problem with his hearing, Kubota had to leave the "huge sound" of those bands behind. The Four Horsemen introduced him to sound poetry and the dynamic, free expression of the voice. Adapting his chanting and scat vocalizations, he has developed his own individual vocal style.. music.flv / running time: 7:19 © CCCA / Linda Corbett 2007

Info: Music

Summary: Influence of Jazz and Abstract Expressionism in Art: This video explores an artist's engagement with music, specifically jazz, and how it parallels his work in abstract expressionism. He discusses the founding of the Artist Jazz Band and the CCMC (Canadian Creative Music Collective), emphasizing the improvisational nature of both his music and visual art. The formation of the Music Gallery as a venue for experimental music highlights his commitment to creating spaces for avant-garde expression.

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Kubota: Essence

Description: essence "The making of art is the most important thing", says Nobuo. That's when he's "really alive". He doesn't show his work that often, and has "recycled" many of his major pieces without regret. Once a piece is finished, his audience is his wife, his friends, and the public, in that order. essence.flv / running time: 3:05 © CCCA / Linda Corbett 2007

Info: essence

Summary: Philosophy on Art Creation and Exhibition: The video captures an artist’s philosophy that the creation of art is far more significant than its exhibition. He expresses a preference for the process over the showcasing, noting that he rarely holds exhibitions and often recycles his major pieces. The artist emphasizes the intense personal satisfaction derived from the act of creation, highlighting the intimate and introspective nature of his artistic process.

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Kubota: Chant

Description: Chant La nécessité d’« épouser la nature » a toujours fait partie de la culture japonaise. En occident, le concept est devenu un des grands thèmes du mouvement hippy des années 1960. « L’idée générale de faire un avec la nature » a incité Nobuo à créer trois œuvres Chant, Tocroc et Roctoc. Dans sa quatrième œuvre, Fermentacio, il explore l’idée de la transformation en plaçant une image de lui-même à l’intérieur du flacon de l’« alchimiste ». chant.flv / durée : 3:34 © CCCA / Linda Corbett 2007

Info: Chant

Summary: Artistic Journey in Zen Buddhism and Architecture: This video explores the intertwined paths of art, architecture, and spirituality in the life of an artist influenced by both Japanese and American architectural principles. The artist reflects on his early admiration for minimalist architecture and how his experiences in Japan, including studying Zen Buddhism and living near iconic architectural sites, profoundly shaped his artistic and philosophical outlook. His work reflects a fusion of Western modernism and traditional Japanese aesthetics, continually exploring the concept of space and structure.

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Kubota: Connections

Description: Connections Nobuo Kubota is firmly rooted in two worlds. He comes from a long line of samurai but was born and educated in Canada. In 1970, after receiving his architecture degree and working in the field, he decided to travel to Japan and study Zen Buddhism. In this clip Nobuo traces his connections to architecture, minimalist sculpture, and the legacy of eastern and western ideas behind his work. connections.flv / running time: 8:40 © CCCA / Linda Corbett 2007

Info: Connections

Summary: Integration of Japanese Art and Personal History: The artist discusses his deep roots in Japanese culture through his samurai lineage and the conflicting teachings of his father about trust and superiority among races. His journey led him back to Japan, where he studied Zen Buddhism and revisited his architectural passions, marrying his heritage with his artistic endeavors. The narrative captures his struggle with cultural identity and the influence of Japanese art forms on his work, particularly the concepts of minimalism and interaction with natural elements.

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Work by Nobuo Kubota

untitled

Work ID: 49804

Measurements: 10 x 16 x 8 ft/pi

Collection:

Date Made: 1967

Materials: painted steel

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA