Ryoichi Kurokawa’s art dissects and abstracts elements from vastly different scales to evoke a sense of majesty. His work involves dissecting, “de-naturing,” and distilling phenomena into abstract sounds and images to reveal the wonders contained within.

While Kurokawa’s synaesthetic approach is intriguing, I wonder if the emphasis on uniting hearing and seeing is more about overcoming the limitations of traditional art forms than a genuine exploration of sensory experience. Perhaps the “mechanical separation” he refers to is not a flaw to be corrected, but a characteristic that allows each sense to be appreciated independently.

Kurokawa embraces technological advancements while maintaining an appreciation for older forms. He is interested in romancing both old and new technologies. His installations often feature multiple screens, creating immersive environments that explore the interplay between figuration and abstraction. However, I question whether the sheer scale and technological complexity of his installations risk overshadowing the subtleties of the natural phenomena they are meant to represent. The sublime, as Kurokawa seems to define it, may be lost in translation if technology becomes an end in itself rather than a means of enhancing our understanding of nature.