Born in 1942 in Saitama, Japan, Sekine Nobuo has become a seminal figure in the Mono- ha movement—a pivotal force in shaping postwar Japanese modern art. He earned his B.F.A. in Painting from Tama Art University in 1968, where he studied under renowned mentors such as Yoshishige Saito and Jiro Takamatsu. Almost immediately after graduating, Sekine began to play a central role in international exhibitions, helping to define the “School of Things” movement.
In 1968, he created Phase-Mother Earth, a work now regarded as a cornerstone of the movement. This groundbreaking piece not only set the stage for the future of earth, installation, and minimalist art in Asia but also reflected his deep engagement with Zen philosophy and his exploration of spatial properties—a nod to the principles of topology. Sekine’s international recognition continued to grow when he represented Japan at the 35th Venice Biennale in 1970 with his Phase of Nothingness series. Over the decades, he has participated in major biennials in France, Japan, and Korea, further solidifying his impact on contemporary art. In 2001, his contributions were honored at Tate Modern during the Century City exhibition.