Opening Reception:
November 7th Fri 6 - 9pm

CHICARA Liquid Chrome 
Chicara Nagata’s love of motorcycles took root early in his youth but nearly ended his life at the age of 16 when he sustained severe injuries due to a riding accident. During his eight-month recovery, he endured intensive therapy and received numerous blood transfusions to survive, only to be haunted with questions of why he was still alive when so many other accident victims lost their lives. He only found renewed purpose in what could be deemed his second life by deciding to give back to the world by creating. Chicara’s art is his expression of gratitude to the countless people who donated their blood and worked to save his life. 
 
Self-trained in graphic design and struggling to pay his own way, Chicara held fast to his new life purpose by sheer will. Eventually, he found success and opened his own graphic design agency before he began to build motorcycles in 1993, and in this endeavor found the object for his artistic expression. After 13 years of perfecting his technique, Chicara conquered the heights of the custom bike building world by winning the AMD World Championship in 2006 and achieved the goal he had so long ago set out to achieve: he achieved his life purpose and created art celebrated by the world
 
There is no large machinery in Chicara's atelier. Other than the antique Harley Davidson engines, the almost 500 parts woven into his motorcycles are each crafted by hand, with each bike requiring approximately 7,500 hours to build. It is difficult to imagine that one person could complete such a work in one lifetime, but Chicara continues to build. Chicara’s flawless technique and visionary designs, which seamlessly integrate a classic aesthetic, contemporary craftsmanship and world-class engineering, come together to create fully functioning motorcycles that transcend into the realm of art. 
 
Profile
 
1962 --  Born in the Saga Prefecture of Kyusyu Island in southern Japan.
1982 -- Began career in graphic design.
1992 -- Established CHICARA, Inc. graphic design agency.
1993 -- Began to customize Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
1998 -- Participated in the Harley custom show in Japan.
*Since, he has participated in motorcycle show all over Japan and won numerous prizes. 
 
2005 -- Participated in Harley custom show in Belgium, Germany, and France, winning a total of six awards.
2006 -- Participated in AMD World Championship 2006 in U.S.A. Won First Place.
2007 -- Participated in AMD World Championship 2007 in U.S.A. Won Second Place.
2007 -- Participated in AMD Asian Championship in Malaysia. Won First Place.