The Intersection of Organic Form and Dimensional Art
Following the success of his 2021 directorial debut, RHYTHMS OF THE RIVER, visual artist Manabu Gaku Inada reunited with Montana-based painter Ben Miller in the fall of 2022.
Their New York exhibition served as a profound showcase of Inada’s multimedia expertise, seamlessly merging analog texture with digital innovation. Despite their contrasting methodologies, a shared artistic soul allowed them to forge a new frontier of creative expression.
The East River Endangered Rivers Project featured a monumental 24-foot installation. Here, Miller’s original paintings were reimagined through Inada’s digital lens across six monitors—each depicting a unique U.S. river. The brushstrokes, specifically crafted for these waters, were transformed into dynamic, living imagery.
Expanding the project’s reach, Inada bridged the gap between fine art and fashion by introducing Miller to the Nepenthes collective. This resulted in a collaborative Fall/Winter 2022 collection for South2 West8, featuring Miller’s artwork as textiles.
To mark the launch, an exhibition was held at the Nepenthes NY flagship store on September 16th, in collaboration with the conceptual artist group (Not)Gagosian, led by Gene Na.
Endangered Rivers Project
Nepenthes NY: 307 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018
September 16th, 2022
Artist: Manabu Gaku Inada, Ben Miller
Year: 2022
Following the success of his 2021 directorial debut, RHYTHMS OF THE RIVER, visual artist Manabu Gaku Inada reunited with Montana-based painter Ben Miller in the fall of 2022.
Their New York exhibition served as a profound showcase of Inada’s multimedia expertise, seamlessly merging analog texture with digital innovation. Despite their contrasting methodologies, a shared artistic soul allowed them to forge a new frontier of creative expression.
The East River Endangered Rivers Project featured a monumental 24-foot installation. Here, Miller’s original paintings were reimagined through Inada’s digital lens across six monitors—each depicting a unique U.S. river. The brushstrokes, specifically crafted for these waters, were transformed into dynamic, living imagery.
Expanding the project’s reach, Inada bridged the gap between fine art and fashion by introducing Miller to the Nepenthes collective. This resulted in a collaborative Fall/Winter 2022 collection for South2 West8, featuring Miller’s artwork as textiles.
To mark the launch, an exhibition was held at the Nepenthes NY flagship store on September 16th, in collaboration with the conceptual artist group (Not)Gagosian, led by Gene Na.
Endangered Rivers Project
Nepenthes NY: 307 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018
September 16th, 2022
Artist: Manabu Gaku Inada, Ben Miller
Year: 2022
The six displays represent six American rivers, simulating their changes over a 24-hour period
in approximately six-minute cycles.
in approximately six-minute cycles.
Bridging Nature and Digital Fluidity.
Ben Miller employs plexiglass as his canvas, wielding a fly fishing rod as his brush.
Gaku captures these physical strokes and deconstructs them into layers, meticulously reconstructing the river’s depth—from the bed to the surface—in alignment with Ben’s methodology.
To breathe life into these layers, digital effects simulate fluid mechanics: slow undercurrents along the banks contrast with rapid central flows. Ben’s intimate knowledge of the river introduces "analog imperfections" that ground the digital representation in reality.
For the six-monitor installation, Gaku envisioned a 24-hour cycle compressed into a six-minute loop. Through intricate color separation and shifts in saturation and brightness, the work transcends static art, offering a dynamic, therapeutic experience that captures the ever-changing ambiance of the river.
Ben Miller employs plexiglass as his canvas, wielding a fly fishing rod as his brush.
Gaku captures these physical strokes and deconstructs them into layers, meticulously reconstructing the river’s depth—from the bed to the surface—in alignment with Ben’s methodology.
To breathe life into these layers, digital effects simulate fluid mechanics: slow undercurrents along the banks contrast with rapid central flows. Ben’s intimate knowledge of the river introduces "analog imperfections" that ground the digital representation in reality.
For the six-monitor installation, Gaku envisioned a 24-hour cycle compressed into a six-minute loop. Through intricate color separation and shifts in saturation and brightness, the work transcends static art, offering a dynamic, therapeutic experience that captures the ever-changing ambiance of the river.
The layers were organized in 3D space using advanced digital tools, and special effects were added to enhance the presentation.
Ben Miller and Manabu Gaku Inada conducted a comprehensive meeting at the Nepenthes flagship store in New York.
Digital artworks measuring 12 x 12 inches were also displayed alongside Ben's original pieces.
Ben Miller is engaging in a discussion with Daiki Suzuki, the president of Nepenthes US.
From left to right: Gene Na, Ben Miller, and Manabu Gaku Inada.
