I am Erika Matsunami, a Hiroshima-born visual artist, sound/sonic composer, and artistic researcher living in Berlin. My practice spans sculpture, photography, video, performance, and sound, exploring memory, identity, and social context through installations and live works. I engage in academic research and public discourse through international exhibitions, conferences, and publications, including a PhD track in Fine Arts and a pre-PhD project on metamorphosis that considers ethics and aesthetics from a neuroscientific perspective.

Erika Matsunami

I am Erika Matsunami, a Hiroshima-born visual artist, sound/sonic composer, and artistic researcher living in Berlin. My practice spans sculpture, photography, video, performance, and sound, exploring memory, identity, and social context through installations and live works. I engage in academic research and public discourse through international exhibitions, conferences, and publications, including a PhD track in Fine Arts and a pre-PhD project on metamorphosis that considers ethics and aesthetics from a neuroscientific perspective.

Available to hire
See more

Language

Japanese
Fluent
German
Advanced
English
Fluent

Work Experience

Artist in Residence at Kyoto Art Centre
January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2004
Workshop-focused residency with collaboration between Antonis Anissegos and Erika Matsunami exploring cross-cultural exchange in performance, sculpture, and video.
Artist in Residence / Media Lab at Can Serrat / Hangar Centre de producció i recerca d'arts visuals
January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2008
Residency emphasizing multimedia experimentation and collaborative development of works around still/silent concepts across venues.
Artist in Residence at OSTRALE Zentrum für zeitgenössische Künste
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Residency supporting the still/silent project and related works; contributed to Ostrale's exploration of contemporary art practices.
Project Grant Recipient at Künstlerhaus Lukas
November 1, 2006 - November 30, 2006
Selected for a project grant to develop new works in Ahrenshoop, Germany.
Artist at Independent / Self-employed
January 1, 1997 - Present
Berlin-based visual artist and sound researcher working across sculpture, photography, video, and performance; engages in artistic research projects and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Artist in Residence (Project Grant) at Künstlerhaus Lukas, Ahrenshoop, Germany
November 1, 2006 - November 30, 2006
Project grant to develop new work and investigate artistic processes.
Artist in Residence (Media Lab) at Can Serrat / Hangar Center de producció i recerca d'arts visuals
January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2008
Media Lab residency focusing on multimedia experimentation in collaboration with Can Serrat and Hangar.
Artist in Residence at OSTRALE Zentrum / Les coloriés
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Artist in Residence with works in the Ostrale framework; activities include performance and installation development.
The Cop - The Art of Feedback at Orpheus Instituut, Ghent, Belgium
November 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020
The Cop - The Art of Feedback, advancing supervision for artistic research doctorates.
Supervisor / Doctoral supervision project at Orpheus Institute
November 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020
The Cop - The Art of Feedback, Advancing supervision for artistic research doctorates.
Artist in Residence at Can Serrat International Art Center
January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2008
Residency program; collaboration with Hangar Centre de producció i recerca d'arts visuals (Media Lab).
Grant Recipient at Eigenart
January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000
Project grant for Touch; Performance with Videoinstallation, Sensation of Motion in Time.
Artist in Residence / Workshop at Kyoto Art Centre
January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2004
Artist in Residence (Workshop, Performance) with Antonis Anissegos
Artist in Residence at Cordts Foundation / B.O.D.Y. Transformative Processes
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2026
Women Artists in Residence / Aufenthaltsstipendium, B.O.D.Y. / Transformative processes.

Education

Master of Fine Arts at Institute for Art in Context, Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK Berlin)
January 1, 1991 - December 23, 1997
Postgraduate studies in Klangkunst / Sound Art at UNI.K Studio für Klangkunst, Universität der Künste Berlin
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2010
Postgraduate studies in Music at UNI.K Studio für Klangkunst, Universität der Künste Berlin
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2012
PhD in Fine Arts (in progress) at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Switzerland
August 1, 2019 - April 20, 2026
Pre-PhD in artistic research Metamorphosis - Ethics and Aesthetics are One - Neuroscientific Perspective at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Switzerland
January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
Fine Arts - Sculpture at Hijiyama University, Hiroshima, Japan
January 1, 1982 - December 31, 1984
Fine Arts - Sculpture (Advanced Courses) at Hijiyama University, Hiroshima, Japan
January 1, 1984 - December 31, 1986
Master of Arts in Art in Context at Institute for Art in Context, Universität der Künste Berlin
January 1, 1991 - December 23, 1997
Guest Auditor – Klangkunst (Postgraduate) at UNI.K Studio für Klangkunst und Klangforschung, UdK Berlin
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2010
Guest Auditor – Klangkunst (Postgraduate) at UNI.K Studio für Klangkunst und Klangforschung, UdK Berlin
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2012
PhD in Fine Arts at Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland
August 1, 2019 - November 30, 2019
Pre-PhD in artistic research Metamorphosis at Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland
January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
Diploma in Fine Arts at Hijiyama University, Hiroshima, Japan
January 1, 1982 - December 31, 1984
Fine Arts (Sculpture) – Advanced Studies at Hijiyama University, Hiroshima, Japan
January 1, 1984 - December 31, 1986
Master of Fine Arts (Artistic Social Advertising) at Institute for Art in Context, Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK Berlin)
January 1, 1991 - December 23, 1997
Postgraduate study in Music (Studio for Klangkunst and Klangforschung) at UNI.K Studio für Klangkunst, Universität der Künste Berlin
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2010
Postgraduate study in Music (Guest auditor) at UNI.K Studio für Klangkunst, Universität der Künste Berlin
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2012
PhD in Fine Arts (PhD in progress / Pre-PhD phase) at Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland
August 1, 2019 - November 30, 2019
Pre-PhD in Artistic Research: Metamorphosis - Ethics and Aesthetics are One - Neuroscientific Perspective at Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland
January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
at Hijiyama University
January 1, 1982 - December 31, 1984
at Hijiyama University
January 1, 1984 - December 31, 1986
at Institute for Art in Context, Universität der Künste Berlin (Berlin University of the Arts)
January 1, 1991 - December 31, 1997
at UNI.K Studio für Klangkunst (sound art) und Klangforschung (sound research), Universität der Künste Berlin
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2010
at UNI.K Studio für Klangkunst (sound art) und Klangforschung (sound research), Universität der Künste Berlin
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2012
PhD in Fine Arts at Zurich University of the Arts
August 1, 2019 - November 30, 2019
Pre-PhD in Metamorphosis - Ethics and Aesthetics are One - from a Neuroscientific Perspective at Zurich University of the Arts
January 11, 2030 - December 31, 2024
Fine Arts, Sculpture at Hijiyama University
January 1, 1982 - January 1, 1984
Fine Arts, Sculpture (Research advanced courses) at Hijiyama University
January 1, 1984 - January 1, 1986
Postgraduate program in Fine Arts, Liberal Arts (Aesthetic Education / Art in Context) at Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK Berlin)
January 1, 1991 - December 23, 1997
Postgraduate study in Klangkunst / Sound Art at UNI.Kl Studio für Klangkunst (UdK Berlin)
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2010
Postgraduate study in Klangkunst / Sound Art at UNI.Kl Studio für Klangkunst (UdK Berlin)
January 1, 2011 - January 1, 2012
PhD in Fine Arts at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Switzerland
August 1, 2019 - November 30, 2019
Pre-PhD in Artistic Research: Metamorphosis - Ethics and Aesthetics are One - from a Neuroscientific Perspective at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)
January 11, 2030 - April 21, 2026

Qualifications

PhD in Fine Arts
August 1, 2019 - April 20, 2026
Pre-PhD in Metamorphosis - Ethics and Aesthetics are One - Neuroscientific Perspective
January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
IGBK Membership
January 1, 2019 - April 21, 2026
CID, UNESCO Membership (International Dance Council)
January 1, 2016 - March 1, 2020
CID, UNESCO Membership (renewed)
January 1, 2024 - April 21, 2026
GEMA Membership
January 1, 2011 - April 21, 2026
GEDOK Membership
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2018
VG Bild-Kunst Membership
January 1, 2005 - April 21, 2026
SARN Member
January 1, 2022 - April 21, 2026
ASA Member (American Society for Aesthetics)
November 1, 2020 - April 21, 2026
SAR Member (Society for Artistic Research)
January 1, 2018 - April 21, 2026
ESA Member (European Society for Aesthetics)
January 1, 2016 - April 21, 2026
NSA Member (Nordic Society of Aesthetics)
January 1, 2016 - April 21, 2026
BSA Member (British Society of Aesthetics)
January 1, 2015 - April 21, 2026
ECRN Member
January 1, 2024 - April 21, 2026

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Other