Shiro Masuyama is originally from Japan. He has studied architecture to Masters‘ level, and his art projects have been influenced by this background, primarily manifesting as site-specific architectural interventions. Utilizing both his architectural expertise and Japanese identity, Masuyama creates projects that fundamentally connect people and society, known as socially engaged art. He holds the belief that interaction with people often yields unexpected results, considering it a crucial process and component in completing an artwork.
After participating in international residencies at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin in 2006, and Flax Art Studios in 2009, Masuyama relocated to Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he has been based ever since. His artistic portfolio encompasses a range of mediums, including performance, sculpture, installation, photography, and video. As an artist originally from Japan who has made his home in Northern Ireland, Masuyama occupies a unique position that allows him to question how identity can be influenced by the dominant political forces surrounding us.

During my residency I realized an Identity T-shirts project, involving all resident artists and staff of the Künstlerdorf. Since I arrived in the residency I found the community of this residency is quite interesting. After taking group photos of us wearing T-shirts. I have ordered printing a group photo on a big banner. I hung this banner on the outside of the gallery building instead of showing the picture in the gallery. I was actually able to get into conversation with some people from Schöppingen this way.