#Japan #Tokyo #Decameron #Rintaro Unno #WangZhiyu

Spiritual Fictions Exhibition

An exciting exhibition, titled 'Spiritual Fictions,' will be held at the Decameron art space in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, from September 5 to 28, 2025. This exhibition will feature the works of three talented artists: Rintaro Unno, WangZhiyu, and Alexander Jyulian. Each artist approaches the concepts of spirituality and fiction, exploring how these thematic realms can serve as conduits to engage with reality rather than escape from it.

Bridging Imagination and Reality

The 'Spiritual Fictions' exhibition delves into the disconnections and overlaps between spiritual imagination and reality. Through a vibrant mix of media including video, objects, Ikebana (flower arranging), text, and installations, visitors will be invited to ponder the relationship between these two realms. The term 'spiritual' typically references unseen forces, depth of the soul, and non-material sensitivity. Interestingly, while 'SF' often stands for science fiction, the artists reinterpret it to represent 'spiritual fictions,' presenting an innovative form of imagination.

Reclaiming Reality

In today’s world, discussions surrounding spirituality can sometimes become unintentionally intertwined with capitalism and politics, siphoning away individual perception and judgment. The artists, with a heightened sense of awareness regarding such issues, advocate for a reevaluation of spiritual imagination—not as a falsehood, but as a pathway to reclaim reality. Their works encapsulate fleeting moments of discomfort in daily life, misunderstandings, and the often empty repetition of language. These pieces are more than mere records; they emerge from unique realities, ultimately signaling 'previously unseen realities' that transcend conventional frameworks.

Fiction as a Means of Reconnection

Historically, science has acted as a medium connecting reality and fiction. In this exhibition, the artists aspire to reconnect spirituality with reality, forging new connections through their imaginative expressions. They propose that fiction is not an avenue for escape, but a method of reconnection, an attempt to pull fragmented realities together once more.

The exhibition will present the spiritual practices and artistic journeys of Rintaro Unno, WangZhiyu, and Alexander Jyulian through engaging visual and linguistic devices drawn from the fragments of daily life. Their approach, while critical of existing values and systems, quietly illuminates new ways of being in modern society, entwined with hope for the future.

Artist Profiles

Rintaro Unno
Born in 1992 in Tokyo, Rintaro Unno is a contemporary artist who draws inspiration from a multitude of themes such as new religions, video games, films, and drones. His work spans video art, installations, painting, and text, focusing on the exploration of how individuals perceive and portray their beliefs. He has exhibited at various venues including EUKARYOTE and the Ginza Tsutaya Bookstore, reflecting on the complex relationship between media, humanity, society, and individual belief systems.

WangZhiyu
Originally from Heilongjiang, China, WangZhiyu has been in Japan since 2017. She graduated from the Oil Painting Department of Tokyo University of the Arts in 2022 and is now enrolled in the doctoral program there. Identifying as a 'modern alchemist,' Wang’s work bridges diverse realms such as religion, occultism, and natural sciences, using symbolic motifs that evoke a sense of spirituality and narrative.

Alexander Jyulian
Alexander Jyulian, also known as Flower Pusher in the Ikebana Sogetsu School, has created various works such as 'Meticulous Cucumber Living' and 'Satellites Chasing.' He presents art that focuses on cultivating time and spaces that resonate with spirituality and religious experiences within a contemporary context.

Exhibition Overview

• - Exhibition Name: Spiritual Fictions
• - Dates: September 5 (Friday) – September 28 (Sunday), 2025
• - Location: Decameron, 1-12-4 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
• - Hours: 20:00 – 27:00 (Close at 24:00 on the 13th)
• - Closed on Mondays

About Decameron

Opened in 2020 in the heart of Kabukicho, Decameron derives its name from Boccaccio's collection of stories that vividly portray the impact of the plague in Europe during 1348. The art space features an exhibition area on the second floor, while the first floor serves as a bar and communication space for mingling among artists and viewers. Since expanding in April 2021, Decameron has continued to host experimental contemporary art exhibitions.

For further details, check their homepage here and their Instagram.