PHIL AKASHI
Born in 1978 in Brussels, Belgium
Lives and works between Barcelona, Brussels and Hong Kong

Phil Akashi is a nomadic artist known for his conceptual and cross-cultural experiments with language, materiality and aesthetics.

As a vibrant player in the East/West dialogue, Phil Akashi carved out a unique visual language often combining the use of traditional crafts with techniques of the abstract expressionism and street art movements. Also known as an Alchemist of language, Phil Akashi employs a wide variety of media to explore and challenge themes of democracy, cultural identity,  power, and resistance. 

Akashi's influences range from pioneering Asian artists such as Xu Bing, Park Seo-Bo, to Western artists such as Christopher Wool, Cy Twombly, and also from the myriad of cultural inspirations of his nomadic lifestyle. Read full biography

GROUP SHOWS AT A MAJOR INSTITUTION

Beijing Biennale, National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) - Beijing 2022
Kunsthalle Zürich (Löwenbräukunst) - Zürich 2020

Museum of Modern Art of Algiers (MAMA) - Algiers 2019
National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA) - Taichung 2018           
Venice Arsenale (MoCA Italia) - Venice 2017   
European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM) - Barcelona 2016   
Power Station of Art (PSA) - Shanghai 2015   
Opera House - Shanghai 2015
European Parliament - Brussels 2015
Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR) - Brussels 2015

SELECTED REVIEWS BY A MAJOR ART PUBLICATION

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) - New York, USA
China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), Cafa Art Info - Beijing, China
Guggenheim, Friday links - New York, USA
Blouin Artinfo - Seoul, Korea

SELECTED AWARDS 

Shortlisted, Hong Kong Human Rights Arts Prize, Hong Kong 2015
Excellence Award Winner, Nanjing International Art Festival, Nanjing 2015
Winner Special Prize Open, Arte Laguna Prize curated by MOCA Italia, Arsenale, Venice 2017
Longlisted, Aesthetica Art Prize, York Art Gallery, York 2018
Major International Public Art Project, Palo Alto Public Art Commission, Palo Alto 2013

SELECTED PROJECTS
 

THE CIRCLE OF TIME
Ink on fine art paper, bamboo, hemp rope, leather, metal, and seal imprints. 4 x 4 x 3,35 m Helutrans Art Space - Singapore 2016 

WISDOM OF HAPPINESS
Ink, gold leaves and acrylic on canvas with Chinese characters: 囍/"Double Happiness", Hong Kong 2015. 78.7"x118.1" / 200x300cm

 RESISTANCE 
Copper and marble vinyl. 380 x 370 x 0,3 cm.
Representing Belgium at Open20, Hotel Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice 2017

LEGEND OF THE DRAGON
Nomadic project across China (Baisha, Hong Kong,…)
2015 - ongoing

                                                PHIL AKASHI ON INSTAGRAM