Artwork
Iseki Pyxxx III
Iseki Pyxxx III is a print by Kunito Nagaoka. It dates from 1984 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The artist knew two very different places: the volcanic lands around Mount Asama and the tense streets of Cold War Berlin.
This 1984 print by Kunito Nagaoka blends quiet mystery with a small, almost playful scale. It feels like a mini map or a toy, yet it carries an empty, cold mood. The artist knew two very different places: the volcanic lands around Mount Asama and the tense streets of Cold War Berlin.
Nagaoka moved from Japan to Berlin in his twenties and stayed fifteen years. His early-80s prints mix quiet landscapes with a sense of hidden danger, like a scene from a later video game.
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Overview
Iseki Pyxxx III is a 1984 print by Kunito Nagaoka, characterized by its miniature scale and enigmatic atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The work evokes a sense of desolate mystery, recalling the landscapes of virtual-reality games where covert operations and warfare are key themes. Its small size suggests a toy, map, or game board, adding to the ambiguity.
Technique & Style
Nagaoka's printmaking style in the early 1980s merged the volcanic topography of his native Japan with the tense ambiance of Cold War-era Berlin, where he lived for 15 years.
History & Provenance
Kunito Nagaoka relocated from Japan to Berlin in his mid-twenties, a move that influenced his artistic output, including works like Iseki Pyxxx III.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kunito Nagaoka made bold, geometric prints in the 1980s. His Iseki Pyxxx III (1984) mixes sharp angles and flat colors like a puzzle of city shadows. It sits somewhere between pop art and the clean lines of design…
