Journey of Light and Space
Interest in Architecture
Born in Gifu Prefecture in 1989, Nishi experienced over ten relocations during his childhood. Living in various environments sparked a deep interest in architectural spaces, and by the age of nine, he began dreaming of becoming an architect to create his ideal spaces with his own hands. Additionally, spending time playing in nature—by the forest and rivers—and sometimes napping at shrines, he became deeply influenced by the sensory experiences of wind, sound, smells, and temperature, all of which significantly impacted his later artistic endeavors.
The Beginning of Exploration
In 2008, Nishi entered Tokyo Designer Gakuin College, where he studied architecture and spatial design in a practical setting. After graduating with honors in 2010, the instability of Japanese society and the economic recession prompted him to reconsider his career path. Consequently, he sought new possibilities for spaces that were not bound by conventional wisdom, leading him to enroll in Tama Art University’s Department of Environmental Design in 2012.
Light and "Mitate" (Seeing as)
During his studies at Tama Art University, Nishi's perspective on space was transformed through encounters with lighting designer Satoshi Uchihara and Japanese garden designer Shunmyo Masuno. He became particularly fascinated by the role of light and the concept of "mitate" (seeing as), and he began exploring the role of light in spatial design. In 2013, inspired by Junichiro Tanizaki's In Praise of Shadows, he created a work titled Liminal -Boundary Line of Light and Shadow-, which expressed the relationship between light and darkness. This piece won the grand prize in an architectural lighting competition. This experience became a turning point in his exploration of the interaction between light and space. In 2015, he produced MIRAGE CUBE, a work that expressed the relationship between optical phenomena and space, discovering new ways to represent space.
Research at Tokyo University of the Arts
In 2016, Nishi enrolled in the master’s program at Tokyo University of the Arts and co-founded the Space Production Lab. the same year, serving as its representative. He focused on exploring expressive methods related to light and space. By the time he graduated in 2018, he had carried out over ten projects, each of which delved into how light influences the atmosphere and perception of space. For his graduation project, he presented SKY PATH, which explored the relationship between natural scenery and optical phenomena, capturing the optical phenomena inherent in the beautiful natural landscapes.
Earning a Doctorate and International Activities
In 2018, Nishi entered the doctoral program at Tokyo University of the Arts and began engaging in international activities. He participated in an artist residency in Malta, where he deepened his understanding of light and space. Additionally, he visited five countries across Europe, including the Netherlands, conducting research using a lux meter. Particularly influential to his research was his experience with "Dutch light" and the architecture of Peter Zumthor. In 2020, he completed his doctoral studies with the architectural work Ripple, which established three key elements of spatial expression: " Atmosphere," "Scenery," and "Mitate." This work, along with his dissertation, led to the completion of his doctoral degree. The project garnered recognition both domestically and internationally, winning 17 titles across 11 awards.
The Pandemic and a Second Doctoral Program
In 2021, Nishi had planned to continue his overseas activities, but the pandemic forced him to cancel those plans. Subsequently, he re-enrolled in the doctoral program in the Architecture Department at Tokyo University of the Arts, where he began a new line of research focusing on structures for phenomena influenced by the unpredictability of nature. In 2022, he co-founded OSOTO lab., an artist duo dedicated to exploring the potential of natural environments and spatial expression. From 2023, he resumed his international activities, participating in an artist residency in Finland, where he visited nearly 100 architectural sites. In particular, Juha Leiviskä’s poetic experience of light in architecture was a significant inspiration for him.
Present and Future
Nishi’s current challenge is to create spaces where light can be experienced regardless of the level of ambient illumination, and to manipulate phenomena using architectural structures and materials. Behind this work is a constant attention to natural environments—solar altitude, illuminance, wind speed, humidity, and weather—and the Atmosphere they create. He continues to pursue diverse forms of expression as he follows the ideal of creating “spaces of light.” Moreover, he aims to achieve innovative spatial expressions that harmonize nature and architecture in unprecedented ways.