#Japan #Tokyo #UltraSuperNew #Duncan Swan #Infinite City

Duncan Swan's 'Infinite City' Exhibition

An exciting new exhibition by Duncan Swan titled 'Infinite City' is set to open at UltraSuperNew KURA in Tokyo on December 6. The exhibition promises to be a captivating journey that invites viewers to explore multiple dimensions of urban life through art. The artist captures the essence of modern living by incorporating fragments of contemporary experiences, historical photographs, and figures housed in museums, all woven together to depict a timeless cityscape.

Swan's work is more than mere artistic representation; it acts as a gateway into the lives of the figures depicted. Each piece serves as a love letter to the dynamic nature of Tokyo, a city that has become dear to Swan over the past three years. He invites everyone to the opening reception on December 5, from 5 PM to 9 PM, where attendees can experience the emotional depth and connection present in his artwork.

Exploring 'Infinite City'

'Infinite City' encapsulates Swan's intention to acknowledge every person who has lived or currently resides in Tokyo. The figures he portrays symbolize the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the city's inhabitants. The artwork features individuals arranged in a grid-like manner, branded with numbers and underlines, suggesting an unseen presence that highlights pivotal moments in their lives. This innovative layout signifies a space that mirrors both the city itself and an everlasting moment in time.

As viewers explore the fabric of Swan's cityscape, they encounter a vivid tapestry of emotions, dreams, and fears, interwoven with the city's narrative. The juxtaposition of past, present, and future figures conveys the complexity of human existence, revealing how individual lives are shaped by personal endeavors as well as by chance and circumstance.

Through 'Infinite City', Swan captures the fleeting moments when the dreams and hopes of people materialize, creating an alternate representation of urban life. His artistic expression sprouted from his experiences in Tokyo, where the multitude of signs and words resonated with feelings of joy, confusion, and profound empathy. Swan articulates that his work is grounded in the love and connections formed during his time in the city, ultimately making it his personal 'love letter to Tokyo'.

The exhibition comprises panels painted with oil colors and paper works created with water-based pigments, all produced over the last six months. After spending four years immersed in pure abstract art, this series signifies Swan's return to human representation. The flows of paint within his artworks, the horizontal and vertical lines, and abstract traces embody external influences, hidden rules, structures, and serendipitous moments.

About the Artist

Duncan Swan, born in 1969 in Sheffield, England, is a British-German painter and sculptor based in Tokyo. After earning a Master’s degree from the Royal College of Art in London, he has held numerous solo and group exhibitions in galleries and museums across Europe and Japan. Swan has also been shortlisted for prestigious awards such as the Jerwood Painting Prize and the John Moores Painting Prize.

Swan’s work intricately intertwines Western abstract expressionism with the aesthetics of the East, exploring the interplay between rhythm, organic forms, structures, and coincidence. He predominantly works with oil paints, creating organic and ordered compositions inspired by natural processes, such as the intertwining of branches or the flow of water over stones. His upcoming work, 'Forbidden Colors', will reinterpret Edo-period concepts and question perceptions of hierarchy and culture.

In his earlier pieces, Swan investigated themes of masking, concealment, and identity through complex spatial arrangements and fragmented imagery. His works chronicle traces of time and memory, creating a visual dialogue between tension and harmony.

Now, based in Tokyo, Swan continues to probe the relationship between the sustainability of nature and its surrounding structures, returning once more to depict human figures and reconstructing reality to examine the essence of 'being human'.

Exhibition Details

• - Dates: December 6, 2025 - December 19, 2025
• - Opening Reception: December 5, 5 PM - 9 PM
• - Market: December 13, 3 PM - 8 PM
• - Venue: UltraSuperNew KURA, 150-0011 Shibuya, Tokyo
• - Entry Fee: Free, with prior reservation required.
• - Website: UltraSuperNew KURA

Don't miss this unique opportunity to engage with the vibrancy of urban life as captured through the eyes of Duncan Swan. Mark your calendars for the opening and be prepared to immerse yourself in the artistry that illustrates the soul of Tokyo.