Function, aesthetic and countless hours of meticulous craftsmanship take form into one of a kind liquid-like creatures on wheels. Japanese artist extraordinaire, Chicara Nagata, takes dedication and inspiration to a whole new level; he hand builds a line of fine motorcycles. Nagata’s flawless technique and visionary designs are based on the concept of “traveling art”. Tokyo houses the atelier where he spends 7,500 hours passionately working. “I have found something on which I will pour my life, I do not know if I will make it to the end of the road, so all I can do is ride toward that place”; is the message he wishes to pass on to whomever encounters this ride.
A life-threatening motorcycle accident at age 16 would inspire extraordinary skills to manufacture these unique bikes. Chicara Nagata worked as a graphic designer for nearly a decade before he spent seven years to complete his first artisanal creation, which he began in the early nineties.
Chicara Nagata designs and constructs the frames, suspension, and steering components, then combines them with vintage engines and antique drivetrains. He assembles up to 500 individual parts on each motorcycle; no large machinery is involved in Chicara’s atelier. Delicately playing with the fine lines between art, design, and technology Chicara Nagata manages to balance the power of a motorcycle with the refinement and discipline of a classical sculptor.
Since 2000, he hand built nineteen motorcycles as part of the Chicara Art line. The first creation, Chicara Art I Classic won first prize at the 2006 AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building and second place in 2007. The same year he won first place in the 2007 AMD Asian Championship in Malaysia. In November 2008, the “Chicara Liquid Chrome” Exhibit at the Ippodo Gallery in New York showcased four of his designs including his latest work, the Motorcycle IV priced at $1 million. Gallery director, Shoko Aono confirms the obvious “He is a genius, a super creator of an extraordinary motorcycle made all by hand. His motorcycles are absolutely brilliant: shiny like jewelry and liquid like creatures”.
Chicara Nagata is currently working on his latest addition. The Motorcycle V is expected to launch next year and will cost $1 million.
~Affluent Page
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