#Tokyo #ArtSticker #The Chain Museum #Beyond Flat

Beyond Flat: Imagining Other Forms of Us

The upcoming special group exhibition titled Beyond Flat: Imagining Other Forms of Us is set to challenge traditional representations of gender in anime and manga. Organized by The Chain Museum, the exhibit will take place at Gallery & Restaurant Butaiura from January 29 to February 15, 2026. Featuring five talented artists – Komiya Risa Marina, Seman Petra, Myouji Namae, Kadoma Mame, and Yamamoto Reira – this exhibition aims to provide a feminist and queer perspective on character representations that have been predominantly viewed through a male-centric lens.

In Japan, anime and manga have developed into a unique and globally popular aspect of pop culture. However, critical examinations from the viewpoints of gender and sexuality have remained relatively sparse within the contemporary art realm that utilizes anime and manga imagery. The Beyond Flat project seeks to address this gap and inspire dialogue around the often-overlooked narratives.

Artists and Their Works

Each of the featured artists brings a diverse set of skills and interests to the exhibition, utilizing various mediums, including painting, video, and installations, to question the marginalized representations in art history. Their aim is to dissect the existing male and heterosexual frameworks that have distorted or rendered invisible the identities of individuals that do not conform to these norms.

Komiya Risa Marina

Komiya, originally from Atlanta and now based in Tokyo, explores themes surrounding new reproductive methods through a queer perspective. Her work often intersects with biotechnology, performance art, and more traditional forms of media. Notable collaborative projects include a garden installation on a site that is legally unbuildable due to restrictions on same-sex marriage, and the queer feminist art platform