#Japan #Tokyo #Akiko Ueda #KOTARO NUKAGA #EN ROUTE

Akiko Ueda's Upcoming Solo Exhibition: 'Fishing as a Mole Does'

Akiko Ueda, a notable artist drawing attention across Europe and China, will showcase her latest works in a solo exhibition titled 'Fishing as a Mole Does – Until Stone Becomes Water' at KOTARO NUKAGA in Tennoz, Tokyo. The exhibition is set to run from July 26 to September 13, 2025, with an opening reception on the first day from 16:00 to 18:00, during which Ueda herself will be present.

Exhibition Overview

• - Dates: July 26, 2025 - September 13, 2025
• - Opening Reception: July 26, 16:00 - 18:00
• - Opening Event: July 26, 17:00 - 17:30. This will feature a collaborative performance project titled 'EN ROUTE' by Ueda and percussionist Naoto Yamashita.
• - Location: KOTARO NUKAGA, 1-32-8 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 140-0002.
• - Gallery Hours: 11:30 – 18:00 (Tuesday – Saturday), closed on Sundays, Mondays, and public holidays, with a summer break from August 10 to August 18.

Ueda's artistic approach reflects a journey through both familiar and unfamiliar landscapes. Throughout her exhibition, visitors can expect an enveloping atmosphere created by meticulously displayed artworks that seem to come alive against the backdrop of darkness, evoking a mesmerizing interplay of recognition and novelty.

Highlights of the Exhibition

Ueda’s performance project 'EN ROUTE', which commenced in 2013 in Paris, incorporates spontaneous artistic sessions with various creatives from diverse fields. This event enriches the performance with layered interpretations of a single canvas that continually evolves in the presence of audiences and fellow artists. The duo Ueda and Yamashita aim to sustain this collaboration, with the project currently spanning its 11th iteration, showcasing works originated in locations such as France, Japan, and Germany. The canvases enriched by countless interactions will be part of the main exhibition.

Akiko Ueda, born in 1983, does not regard painting merely as a representational tool; instead, she explores it as a medium reflecting the transformation of phenomena and the fleeting moments that arise from them. She gained early recognition, winning awards such as the Jury Prize at the 2009 Shell Art Award and the Ohara Museum Prize at the 2010 VOCA Exhibition. Ueda's artistic trajectory took a pivotal turn during her stay in Belgium as a recipient of the POLA Art Foundation's overseas training program in 2018, expanding her activities to Belgium and China. Her latest exhibition will present works created during and around her time in Belgium, featuring layers of imagery that unveil the invisible through time, memory, and space.

The title 'Fishing as a Mole Does – Until Stone Becomes Water' serves as a metaphor for Ueda's creative practice. Much like a mole, who digs without the benefit of sight, Ueda enters her artistic process without predetermined intentions, demonstrating a patience akin to fishing, capturing the unseen. The subtitle hints at the fluidity of existence and the potential for transformation, reminiscent of geological time scales.

This exhibition represents a unique opportunity to delve into Akiko Ueda's artistic world and experience her profound exploratory techniques firsthand. We invite everyone to visit and witness how her works provoke thought on perception, transformation, and the essence of art itself.

Artist Profile: Akiko Ueda

Akiko Ueda was born in Kyoto, Japan, in 1983. She graduated from Musashino Art University in 2006 and completed her master's in painting at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels in 2020, followed by studies in lithography, graduating in 2023. Ueda's exploration of painting transcends mere replication and representation, aiming to express the dynamics of transformation and the transitional moments specific to each piece. Her early works focused on capturing the continuity of time and movement, evolving into present-day explorations of familiarity and the unknown through unpredictability and improvisation.

With an impressive record of exhibitions both domestically and internationally, Akiko Ueda continues to be a significant figure in the contemporary art scene, linking her innovative vision with audiences all around the globe.