#Japan #Tokyo #Tokyo International Gallery #Rio Uchino #Haruki Ohno

Figround — A Look into the Interplay of Image and Medium

The Tokyo International Gallery will host a captivating group exhibition titled "Figround — Image and Ground" from May 23 to June 27, 2026. Featuring the works of emerging artists Rio Uchino, Haruki Ohno, and Fu Nagasawa, this exhibition examines the interaction between art and its presentation mediums, challenging conventional understandings of artwork.

As visitors enter the gallery, they are invited to consider how the art on the walls represents the "image" (the figure) and how the walls and pedestals function as the "ground" (the background). This duality prompts a reflection on the relationship between representation and medium, suggesting that the materiality of the artwork plays a crucial role in shaping our perception. Often, the image is deemed more significant than the ground, but is this assumption justified?

Artist Contributions

The exhibition showcases diverse approaches from the three featured artists, each exploring the relationship between image and medium in unique ways.

Rio Uchino

Rio Uchino's innovative works include woven strings of dried oil paint that challenge traditional notions of painting. His creations question the reliance on canvas, as pigments themselves form images without a supporting structure. The paper frame that often serves merely as a containment for images instead becomes a complex display mechanism, thereby dismantling conventional hierarchies that define the relationships between material, support, and display.

Haruki Ohno

Haruki Ohno draws inspiration from religious artistic expression, creating sculptural pieces that evoke personal prayer objects rather than monumental installations intended for grand sacred spaces. Here, the surrounding environment significantly influences the material and form of his works, blurring the distinction between the ground and the image. This conceptual layering prompts viewers to reconsider what constitutes the grounding context of art.

Fu Nagasawa

Fu Nagasawa takes a different route by extracting motifs from folk crafts and natural elements, expressed through techniques like oil painting and woodblock printing. Within the Western tradition, images rendered on canvas have long been considered central to expression. Yet, by shifting from ceramic and textile representations to canvas, Nagasawa’s work invites a reevaluation of the boundaries between decoration and representation.

Exhibition Themes

The artworks presented in this exhibition deliberately engage with the elements of materiality, support, and spatial presentation. They prompt deep inquiries about what constitutes an artwork when we engage with it in an art space. What actually materializes the concept of a work of art — is it the physicality, the spatial context, or the institutional frameworks surrounding it?

On May 23, 2026, from 4 PM to 7 PM, an opening reception will provide visitors with the opportunity to interact with the artists and gain further insights into their creative processes. No prior reservations are required, and admission is free.

Practical Information

• - Title: Figround — Image and Ground
• - Artists: Rio Uchino, Haruki Ohno, Fu Nagasawa
• - Venue: Tokyo International Gallery
• - Address: 1-32-8 Higashi Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, TERRADA ART COMPLEX II, 2nd Floor
• - Exhibition Dates: May 23 – June 27, 2026
• - Opening Hours: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Closed Sundays, Mondays, and holidays; Tuesday requires prior reservation)

Engagement with this exhibition provides not just a visual experience, but an intellectual exploration of the very fabric of artistic creation and appreciation.