Kataguchi Minami solo exhibition "Children's room scene"

February 14 - March 2, 2025
1-7 pm

Closed on Mon, Tue and Wed.
*reception:Feb. 15, 5-7pm
*Anyone can participate in the reception.

Kataguchi Minami《Lucy》2024, oil on wood panel, 22x27.3cm(F3)
Kataguchi Minami《Simon》2024, oil on wood panel, 22x27.3cm(F3)

Shimokitazawa Arts is pleased to announce the first solo exhibition "Children's room scene" by Kataguchi Minami. Kataguchi Minami was born in Tokyo and graduated from Joshibi University of Art and Design, Department of Fine Arts, Department of Western Painting in 2024.
Kataguchi Minami's "Idol", which was exhibited at last year's Joshibi University of Art and Design graduation exhibition, caught the attention of many people and was spread on social media. Stuffed animals, candlesticks, cups, plates, and miscellaneous goods are depicted on deformed panels so realistically that at first glance you might mistake them for photographs. Each piece was cute or beautiful, and although it wasn't particularly unusual, it had a dignified presence that seemed to have been polished. I was also impressed by the quiet power and tension felt throughout the screen.
Kataguchi carefully arranges and draws the objects she has collected and cherished since she was a child. The love Kataguchi has for her collection is poured into her gaze and every stroke of her hand. I think viewers can feel Kataguchi's quiet passion and sense of beauty in her works. And perhaps the viewer's own cherished objects and feelings and memories about them will suddenly come back to life.
Please take a look at Kataguchi's and your own "children's room", where you can see the small works that reflect Kataguchi's way of life.

-On the occasion of my solo exhibition-
The title was borrowed from Schumann's solo piano piece "Kinderszenen". I create motifs and create paintings in my room, which is a child's room. Most of the motifs I picked up when I was a child, a broader sensual definition, not limited by age, are still very important to me, and they remind me that my soul is unchanging. Adults can go anywhere, but it's difficult to visit ourselves as a child. I would like to present to us as adults, the scenes of the rooms of boys and girls who wondered how the moon would follow forever, where the stones on the beach seemed to shine, and who dreamed of living in a cute castle-like room. We will probably run into each other in works named after fictional characters.

Kataguchi Minami《Teacher》2025, oil on wood panel, 18x14cm(F0)
Kataguchi Minami《My Sirius》2025, oil on wood panel, 18x14cm(F0)
Kataguchi Minami《Un ange passe》2021, oil on wood panel, 27.3x22cm(F3)


Kataguchi Minami
Born in Tokyo.
2020 Graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan Ueno High School
2024 Graduated from Joshibi University of Art and Design, Department of Fine Arts, Department of Western Painting

Favorite artist:Vilhelm Hammershøi, Francisco de Zurbarán, Georges de La Tour, Johannes Vermeer,
Nakamura Asumiko, Mihara Mitsukazu, Nagano Mayumi, Mori Mari

Exhibition

2024
Group exhibition "The party" Shimokitazawa Arts, Tokyo
Group exhibition "Roses and stars" haco -art brewing gallery-, Tokyo
Group exhibition "Immoral boy 2024" SUNABA gallery-, Osaka
2023
Group exhibition "Skew position" Art Space Kimura ASK, Tokyo
11th. Maeda Kanji Award Exhibition, Tokyo and Tottori
Group exhibition "Immoral boy 2023" SUNABA gallery-, Osaka
2022
Group exhibition "Upside down world II" SUNABA gallery-, Osaka
2021
Group exhibition "Hello 2021 summer, Newcomers welcome" SUNABA gallery-, Osaka

Award

2024 Joshibi University of Art and Design Art Museum Encouragement Award, Kato Yoshiyuki Memorial Award

Artist Statement
I carefully arrange the antiques and miscellaneous goods I have collected so far and paint them. These paintings, which contain a sense of personal faith, are more like religious paintings than still life paintings. I create altars for myself - like Shinto altars, Buddhist altars, and amulets - with the idea of ​​finding things to love, cherishing them, and not giving up on beautiful things in everyday life. I do not want still life to remain as a mere allegory or metaphor, so I pursue religious spirituality to make it a unique form of painting.