About
Akira Zakamoto is a heteronym of Luca Motolese, an autonomous and parallel identity with its own biography, its own voice and its own body of work. The series of works, heterogeneous and incoherent among themselves, are chapters of the same apocalyptic journey; multiplicity lies at the base of the poetics that underlies the project.
Akira Zakamoto è un eteronimo di Luca Motolese, identità autonoma e parallela con una propria biografia, una propria voce e un proprio corpus. Le serie di opere, disomogenee e incoerenti tra loro, sono capitoli di uno stesso viaggio apocalittico, la molteplicità è alla base della poetica che sottende al progetto.
Akira Zakamoto is a heteronym of Luca Motolese, an autonomous and parallel identity with its own biography, its own voice and its own body of work. The series of works, heterogeneous and incoherent among themselves, are chapters of the same apocalyptic journey; multiplicity lies at the base of the poetics that underlies the project.
Akira Zakamoto est un hétéronyme de Luca Motolese, une identité autonome et parallèle avec sa propre biographie, sa propre voix et son propre corpus. Les séries d'œuvres, hétérogènes et incohérentes entre elles, sont les chapitres d'un même voyage apocalyptique ; la multiplicité est à la base de la poétique qui sous-tend le projet.
Akira Zakamoto ist ein Heteronym von Luca Motolese, eine eigenständige und parallele Identität mit eigener Biografie, eigener Stimme und eigenem Werk. Die untereinander uneinheitlichen und widersprüchlichen Werkserien sind Kapitel ein und derselben apokalyptischen Reise; die Vielfalt bildet die Grundlage der Poetik, die dem Projekt zugrunde liegt.
Akira Zakamoto es un heterónimo de Luca Motolese, una identidad autónoma y paralela con una biografía, una voz y un corpus propios. Las series de obras, heterogéneas e incoherentes entre sí, son capítulos de un mismo viaje apocalíptico; la multiplicidad está en la base de la poética que subyace al proyecto.
Akira Zakamoto é um heterônimo de Luca Motolese, uma identidade autônoma e paralela com biografia, voz e corpus próprios. As séries de obras, heterogêneas e incoerentes entre si, são capítulos de uma mesma viagem apocalíptica; a multiplicidade está na base da poética que subjaz ao projeto.
Akira Zakamoto was born much loved.
He keeps a friend, imagined, unproved,
who carries out deeds of great renown,
called Luca Motolese, talk of the town.
He paints and invents frivolous stuff,
on the beach with wine and mussels enough.
He reads a great deal and writes very little,
he'll die before or after — life is brittle.
He keeps a friend, imagined, unproved,
who carries out deeds of great renown,
called Luca Motolese, talk of the town.
He paints and invents frivolous stuff,
on the beach with wine and mussels enough.
He reads a great deal and writes very little,
he'll die before or after — life is brittle.
Akira Zakamoto was born much loved.
He keeps a friend, imagined, unproved,
who carries out deeds of great renown,
called Luca Motolese, talk of the town.
He paints and invents frivolous stuff,
on the beach with wine and mussels enough.
He reads a great deal and writes very little,
he'll die before or after — life is brittle.
He keeps a friend, imagined, unproved,
who carries out deeds of great renown,
called Luca Motolese, talk of the town.
He paints and invents frivolous stuff,
on the beach with wine and mussels enough.
He reads a great deal and writes very little,
he'll die before or after — life is brittle.
Akira Zakamoto è nato amato.
Ha un amico immaginario
che compie grandi imprese,
detto Luca Motolese.
Dipinge e inventa cose futili,
sulla spiaggia vino e mitili.
Legge tanto e scrive poco,
morirà prima o dopo.
Ha un amico immaginario
che compie grandi imprese,
detto Luca Motolese.
Dipinge e inventa cose futili,
sulla spiaggia vino e mitili.
Legge tanto e scrive poco,
morirà prima o dopo.
Akira Zakamoto est né comblé.
Il a un ami imaginaire, voilé,
qui accomplit de hauts faits sans pareil,
nommé Luca Motolese, le soleil.
Il peint et invente des choses futiles,
sur la plage, du vin et des moules dociles.
Il lit beaucoup et n'écrit qu'un peu,
il mourra tôt ou tard, si Dieu le veut.
Il a un ami imaginaire, voilé,
qui accomplit de hauts faits sans pareil,
nommé Luca Motolese, le soleil.
Il peint et invente des choses futiles,
sur la plage, du vin et des moules dociles.
Il lit beaucoup et n'écrit qu'un peu,
il mourra tôt ou tard, si Dieu le veut.
Akira Zakamoto kam geliebt zur Welt.
Er hat einen Freund, den niemand sieht,
der große Taten vollbringt als Held,
genannt Luca Motolese, in jedem Lied.
Er malt und erfindet nichtige Sachen,
am Strand bei Wein und Muschellachen.
Er liest sehr viel und schreibt nur wenig,
er stirbt wohl früher oder später, König.
Er hat einen Freund, den niemand sieht,
der große Taten vollbringt als Held,
genannt Luca Motolese, in jedem Lied.
Er malt und erfindet nichtige Sachen,
am Strand bei Wein und Muschellachen.
Er liest sehr viel und schreibt nur wenig,
er stirbt wohl früher oder später, König.
Akira Zakamoto nació amado.
Tiene un amigo imaginario
que cumple grandes hazañas,
llamado Luca Motolese.
Pinta e inventa cosas fútiles,
en la playa vino y mejillones.
Lee mucho y escribe poco,
morirá antes o después.
Tiene un amigo imaginario
que cumple grandes hazañas,
llamado Luca Motolese.
Pinta e inventa cosas fútiles,
en la playa vino y mejillones.
Lee mucho y escribe poco,
morirá antes o después.
Akira Zakamoto nasceu amado.
Tem um amigo imaginário,
que faz grandes feitos, dedicado,
chamado Luca Motolese, visionário.
Pinta e inventa coisas fúteis,
na praia, vinho e mexilhões úteis.
Lê bastante e escreve pouco,
mais cedo ou mais tarde morre, louco.
Tem um amigo imaginário,
que faz grandes feitos, dedicado,
chamado Luca Motolese, visionário.
Pinta e inventa coisas fúteis,
na praia, vinho e mexilhões úteis.
Lê bastante e escreve pouco,
mais cedo ou mais tarde morre, louco.
Awards
2025
★Bam – Modern and Contemporary Art Biennial of Piedmont Harambee Arte Kunst, Costigliole Saluzzo
2023
★Bam – Modern and Contemporary Art Biennial of Piedmont Harambee Arte Kunst, Casa del Conte Verde, Rivoli
2020
★Luxembourg Art Prize 2020 Artistic merit selection, Luxembourg
2019
★25th National Contemporary Art Competition Prize Satura Arte, Genoa
2018
★24th National Contemporary Art Competition Prize Satura Arte, Genoa
2016
★Fondazione Esperienze di Cultura Metropolitana Prize Ecomuseo del Freidano, Turin
2015
★B.art International Prize international public art call, Turin
Exhibitions
2025
★Bam 2025 Transit – Eclecticism, Neo-Pop, Artificial Intelligence – Harambee Arte Kunst Modern and Contemporary Art Biennial of Piedmont, Palazzo Sarriod de La Tour, Costigliole Saluzzo (CN)
2024
★Human Inhuman From 30 November to 14 December 2024, Atelier Montez – Via di Pietralata 147/a-b, 00158 Rome
2023
★Bam – Modern and Contemporary Art Biennial of Piedmont 2023 Edition, Casa del Conte Verde, Rivoli (TO)
★Media-Mente / A Life of Fake News Solo show by Akira Zakamoto, Galleria Spazio 44 – Via Maria Vittoria 44, Turin
★A World of Superheroes From myth to man today, Museo Civico di Asolo (TV)
2019
★Solo show by Akira Zakamoto Atelier Montez, Via di Pietralata 147/a-b, 00158 Rome
★Satura Solo show by Akira Zakamoto, Palazzo Stella, Piazza Stella 5, Genoa
★Boom Palazzo della Cultura, Via Vittorio Emanuele Ii 121, Catania
2018
★Shamal Polo del 900, Polo del 900 – Via del Carmine 14, 10122 Turin (TO)
★Caserta Jazz Festival Solo show and festival set design, Giardini del Setificio Leuciano, Piazza della Seta 7-8, San Leucio, 81100 Caserta
2016
★Apocalipse Fantastica Zakamoto in Lisbon, Braço de Prata – Rua da Fábrica de Material de Guerra 1, 1950-128 Lisbon
★Mca Museum Works, Piazza Municipio 1, Camo (CN)
2015
★Zakamoto on the Architecture of M. Ronco Bart, Largo Marconi 1/E, Turin
★The Fury of Zakamoto's Children at the Lido. Indignation and Irony in Zakamoto's Venice Manni Art Gallery, Via Sandro Gallo 97, Lido (VE)
2014
★Zakamoto at Italian Design Embassy Zakamoto at Italian Design Embassy, Sibyllegatan 46, Stockholm
★My Masterpiece Bell tower of the Parish Church, Piazza Botero, Bene Vagienna (CN)
★The End of Work Two-person show by Palumbo and Zakamoto for the Cgil regional congress, Bit Turin
2013
★The Future of Cagliari – Solo Show by Akira Zakamoto Culture Festival, Centro Museale Lazzaretto, Cagliari
2012
★Solo Show by Akira Zakamoto Galleria Arte è Kaos, Via V. Veneto 100, Alassio (SV)
★Akira Zakamoto At the Palazzina Azzurra, Palazzina Azzurra, Viale Buozzi, San Benedetto del Tronto
★Fairy Tales Akira Zakamoto, Via Mazzini 20 (Galleria Mazzini), Milan
★Zakamoto Solo show, Via Gustavo di Valdengo 2, Biella
2011
★Xmas Santa & Cole, Via Cosimo del Fante 5, Milan
★Akira Zakamoto Casa Arte Viadeimercati, Via dei Mercati 15, Vercelli
★The Golden Ages the infinite richness in children's eyes, Galleria Virando, Corso Giovanni Lanza 105, Turin
2010
★Fragments of Light from the kaleidoscope of life, Museo Palazzo Oddo, Albenga (SV)
★The Angels of Levate Solo show by Akira Zakamoto, Civic Hall of the Municipality of Levate (BG)
★Gianni Rodari's Blue Traffic Light At the Park of Fantasy, Museo Gianni Rodari, Omegna
★Superheroes Solo show by Akira Zakamoto, Galleria Ica Alquattrodiviatorre – Via Torre 4, Parabiago (MI)
2009
★City of Angels Angelo Accardi, Akira Zakamoto, Dino Sambiasi, Alfonso and Nicola Vaccari, Frida Arte, Piazza Giuseppe Massari 16, Bari
★Indigo Solo show by Akira Zakamoto, Galleria Gfv – Via Camurati 4, Valenza (AL)
★Angels Solo show by Akira Zakamoto, Oratorio di S. Caterina – Piazza Santa Caterina, Cervo (IM)
★Fahrenheit 451, the Film of Life Solo show by Akira Zakamoto, Galleria Linea 451 – Via Santa Giulia 40/A, Turin
★MicroMacro Solo show by Akira Zakamoto, Galleria MicroMacro – Via Principi d'Acaja 14/B, Turin
★The Creators of Worlds Solo show by Akira Zakamoto, San Gregorio Art Gallery – Dorsoduro 165, 30123 Venice
2008
★Here The creators of the future. Children, light of change, La Corte di Canobbio, Cortemilia (CN)
★Indigo Children Solo show by Akira Zakamoto, Galleria Spazio10, La Serra – Corso Botta 30, Ivrea
★One Two Three Star A project by Akira Zakamoto and Francesca Bogliolo, Galleria MicroMacro – Via Principi d'Acaja 14/B, Turin
★The Face, Incarnation of the Dream by Bottega Indaco, Former Anglican Church – Via Adelasia 10, Alassio (SV)
2007
★Dream Frame The dream that creates reality, Galleria Arte è Kaos – Via Xx Settembre 98, Alassio (SV)
2006
★Islands, the Strongholds of the Dream Akira Zakamoto and Ciro Palumbo, La Torre della Filanda – Via al Castello 8, Rivoli (TO)
1995
★Disordered Space Palazzo degli Antichi Chiostri, Via Giuseppe Garibaldi 25, 10122 Turin