[Architalk Webinar Series x ACC]
#2 Arts, Architecture, and Society

The International House of Japan (IHJ) and the Asian Cultural Council (ACC) are proud to present Architalk Webinar Series, an online series analyzing the role of architecture within the context of contemporary, global themes.

We aim to highlight how architecture both reflects and responds to critical issues around the globe—exploring the societal impact of environmental, social, cultural, and economic issues through the lens of architecture, public spaces, and the arts.

Both founded by John D. Rockefeller 3rd, IHJ and ACC are committed to advancing international understanding, dialogue, and respect across Asia and the United States. We have partnered with renowned architects and artists to join us for this six-part series featuring ACC alumni, including: Kengo Kuma (ACC 1985, 2019), Kohei Nawa (ACC 2004), Lawrence Chua (ACC 2015), Pen Sereypagna (ACC 2012), Savinee Buranasilapin (ACC 2017), Sarah Sze-Wa Mui (ACC 2016), and Jusuck Koh (ACC 1978, 1979).

The series will launch in early 2022. Stay tuned for more!

Kohei Nawa is a multidisciplinary artist trained in sculpture. His works often explore the boundary of sight and the senses, and the perception of virtual and physical space by using a singular material or texture. His internationally acclaimed PixCell series illustrates the relationship between the individual and the whole, with layers of glass beads creating complex, light-filled structures, like cells in the natural or pixels in the digital world. In 2018, he created Throne, a monumental sculpture installation at the Louvre Pyramid in Paris. He has participated in numerous international art biennales, solo and group exhibitions, and art fairs as one of the most important Japanese contemporary artists.

Kohei Nawa received an ACC Fellowship in 2004 to observe contemporary art, create new work, and meet with artists and curators in the United States.

Specializing in data science and healthcare policies, he has been involved in the developments of various health-related projects including the National Clinical Database, a clinical registry database involving 5,000 hospitals all over Japan, and more recently, nationwide COVID-related Line surveys led by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. He also works with the World Economic Forum and the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) to create a new social vision, and is a Thematic Project Producer of World Expo 2025.