3D Surreal Art of Kazuhiko Nakamura

Hello everyone! Do you remember that we’ve promised something special for you? So today is this day! There are no words to describe how proud we are to present an interview with Kazuhiko Nakamura (also known as Almacan)! This person is not just a 3D author, he is a true artist with his own absolutely unique style!

 

Kazuhiko Nakamura, “Triceratops”

 

He was born in Hyogo, Japan in 1961. Now he works as an environmental graphic designer in Tokyo while producing 3D art works in his free time. He has become famous for exhibiting his works in online 3D galleries. When he was young he was strongly influenced by surrealism paintings and cyberpunk art, and has produced watercolor paintings, drawings, sculptures and much more. Now Kazuhiko enjoys creating 3D worlds which he assembles like puzzles by gathering archaic pieces from his memory.

 

For how long are you in 3D Art and what was your first work?

 

It’s been ten years since I began to work with the ‘Shade’ 3D software.
The first work was a synthesis of an easy 3D model composed of the simple geometrical shapes and a photograph image.
I was just making my first steps and that work was really elementary. At that time it seemed very difficult for me to create a complicated 3D model.

 

First Work of Kazuhiko Nakamura

 

How important is 3D Art for you? Is it your primary activity or is there anything else that you do for living?

 

I am working at the interior design company in Tokyo. This is what I do for living. And I devote weekends and my free time to the 3D Art. Unfortunately this is the only time I can spend on my art work. However that is really irreplaceable and precious time for me.

 

It is obvious that you have had a very rich artistic background before going into 3D. In several words - what were your career stages before becoming a 3D-guru?

 

Career stages?…..
I wanted to become a painter since I was young, this yearning for the art has never stopped and became stronger while I was growing. I tried myself in different art styles such as the watercolor and the collage until I discovered the 3D. I think that those art experiences made a good base for my present art.

 

Kazuhiko Nakamura, “The End of Flight Zone”

 

Your works differ greatly from the mainstream 3D Models. What are the major principles of Kazuhiko Nakamura style?

 

Now a lot of 3D artists pursue photorealism in 3D modeling. Of course this trend is pretty interesting to me too. However, I like that special creativity and subjective expressions that the painter puts into the real object. I put my own vision of the image into the object and I think this is what makes my works so special. I search for my image tenaciously trying to create the best combination of the shapes, textures and lighting.
And I am particularly interested in expressing the characteristic of an antique portrait mechanical.

 

What are your major sources of inspiration? Is there any general inspiring moment for all of your activity or each work has its own muse?

 

I often draw a lot of doodle in a small sketchbook using the felt pen. Usually I do this in the laid-back mode, don’t think about anything specifically. Complicated shapes and strange characters of my sketchbook become inspiration for my art.

 

Kazuhiko Nakamura, “Shell in the Darkness”

 

Are there any special works for you that you would like to share with our audience? Preferably the new ones that have not been published elsewhere.

 

There are some unpublished small works created in the past. However, these are incomplete. This “Bug Chair” is one of them. This was just a trial though I used the same metal texture in the following works.

 

Kazuhiko Nakamura, “Bug Chair”

 

How long does it usually take you to complete your 3D project? I mean all of your works are complicated to perform not to mention the concept development.

 

To complete one work, I use a great number of 3D model parts. It’s like a puzzle game – I put a lot of pieces together to make a perfect composition.
Gradually a lot of parts are replaced like the puzzle game and the ideal composition is completed. Therefore, a lot of 3d models I haven’t used yet remain “sleeping” on my hard disk. Making the 3D model is not an indissoluble process. Although I use all my free time for the modeling, production period may last for several months as I do a lot of other things in my life and I have to manage with everything.

 

What are your favorite modern artists and art styles? Are you trying to follow the world’s latest trends in 3D Art or are you just following your own artistic sense?

 

“Surrealisme Art” or “Fantastic Realism” made a great influence on me. I especially admired the works of Ernst Fuchs and H.R. Giger… I would love to develop my own artistic sense though. And I think it’s impossible without following the latest trends in 3D Art.
My work “Requiem for Industry” was published in “Les Barany’s CARNIVORA The Dark Art of Automobiles” this year. It was presented along with the work of H.R. Giger, Zdzislaw Beksinski and others not as just a piece of 3D art but as a piece of Fantastic Art.

 

Kazuhiko Nakamura, “Requiem for Industry”

 

Do you work with commercial 3D Model projects or are your works purely artistic? Will commercialization influence your inspiration?

 

3D modeling is a way to express myself as an artist.
My works were used for the CD and book covers several times in Europe. But those were isolated instances and I don’t think commercialization may influence my art in any way. I liked how the graphic designer presented my works and it was interesting for me to see my models being used in some other art directions.

 

How would you feel if your works were animated and used in cinema for example? Who do you think could direct a movie with a character like yours?

 

It would be extremely interesting for me because I am a moviegoer. My favorite animated movie is a stop motion animation film called “Street of Crocodiles” directed by the Quay Brothers in 1986. If Quay Brothers used one of the 3d characters I created I would fail words to express my emotions.

 

Kazuhiko Nakamura, “Tower”

 

* * *

 

We are very grateful to Kazuhiko for this interview and we greatly appreciate the time it took him! We wish only the best to Kazuhiko. As for you, our fellow audience, please check back soon for another portion of unbelievable interviews with great well known 3D Artists!

 

 

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