Karin Nakagawa & Manfred Bernard
With his keen sense for communication, dramaturgy, space, light, and sound, Manfred creates the environment in which I can move and let my music resonate on a deeper level. At the same time, he has the courage to hold space for silence. He is a demanding but inspiring Art-Director, as well as an outstanding cultural bridge-builder.
Karin Nakagawa, an award-winning, internationally successful Japanese musician and artist, was born in Tokyo and has lived in Europe for the last several years. She graduated from the renowned Tokyo University of Arts and has become one of the leading 25-string koto performers. As an ECM Records artist she was awarded the “Swedish Grammy Award” in a trio with Lena Willemark and Anders Jormin. More recently, Karin has established herself also in the realm of children's theater, with poetic stories and her own stage designs. In addition to various cross-cultural collaborations, she continues to be active as a solo artist, touching audiences with her authentically developed performance style, both on the koto and with her voice. Building upon her distinct cultural identity and tradition, Karin’s diversity gives her music a rare and unparalleled emotionality.
Manfred Bernard was born in South Tyrol, Italy, and has a multifaceted biography. His path led him from craftsmanship, through martial arts and travel, into the arts – including formal training as a cinematographer. During a two-year stay in Japan, where he studied the shakuhachi (Zen flute), he began collaborating with Karin Nakagawa and, over the years, became primarily her personal Artistic Director. This creative and intense partnership reinforced Manfred’s vision of creativity as a form of everyday communication that transcends culture and tradition—a path toward deeper self-awareness.
Alongside various international collaborations, Karin and Manfred are currently refocusing their work on Karin’s solo performances. Central themes include nature, cultural identity, tradition, impermanence, and the Japanese concept of Ma (間)—an empty space that does not separate things, but connects them. Their aim is to invite listeners to feel life’s tension, allowing reflection, emotion, and silence to unfold. In this space, we are encouraged to embrace our shared responsibility for the beauty, fragility, and fleetingness of life.
The artist-in-residence stay of Karin Nakagawa and Manfred Bernard in Krems is taking place in cooperation with the Imago Dei Festival, where Karin will perform a solo concert on March 29 at the Minoritenkirche Krems—a special chance to experience her collaboration with Manfred live!
Citizenship: Japan/Italy
Residence: Session 2 (23.02.-31.03.2026)