Hiromi Kakimoto's Solo Exhibition "Star Boy - Night of the Flood -" to be Held at "Gallery Butaiura" in Azabudai Hills from July 8th; Second Collaboration between CADAN and ArtSticker

《Star Boy - Night of the Flood -》 #01, Chromogenic print, 2021

The Chain Museum Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Masamichi Toyama; hereinafter referred to as "The Chain Museum") will hold a solo exhibition by Hiromi Kakimoto titled "Star Boy - Night of the Flood -" (Exhibition Period: Wednesday, July 8, 2026 - Sunday, August 2, 2026) at "Gallery Butaiura" (within Azabudai Hills), which we operate.

This project is the second installment of "CADAN Butaiura," a series of exhibitions held by CADAN member galleries in a relay format at "Gallery Butaiura," operated by ArtSticker.

Exhibition details can be found here.

*A reception is scheduled to be held from 6:00 PM on Thursday, July 9th. (Free admission, reservation required, ticket system)

Statement

A photograph found in an old album. My father, in his school uniform, stares intently into the lens. The image of that photo, seen only once, won't leave my mind. Roland Barthes once said that the "noema of photography" is "it was = then = there." The photograph I found in the old album eloquently spoke of this essence, but will it remain unchanged even after 100 years? Perhaps the reason we can believe in the "it was = then = there" we feel when looking at a photograph is not whether it factually existed, but because we continue to develop new narratives based on memory.

The work "Star Boy" is a reconstruction pieced together from fragments of memories and photographs related to my father, things he said during his lifetime, and accounts from those close to him.

The first chapter, "- Night of the Flood -," begins with what he saw on the night of a major flood that actually occurred in the mountainous region of Wakayama Prefecture, and is structured by interweaving episodes related to him and his mother. Here, we attempt to explore the relationship between life and death, and between memory and narrative.

《Star Boy - Night of the Flood -》 #09, Chromogenic print, 2021

Artist Profile

Hiromi KAKIMOTO

Born in Osaka Prefecture, residing in Kyoto Prefecture. Graduated from Seian University of Art and Design. With themes of "memory" and "the boundary between reality and unreality," she is interested in the process of narrative construction. Her work is inspired by dreams she has had, images obtained from her own and others' old memories, and legends passed down through generations. By reconstructing ambiguous memories into photographic works, she explores the origin of images that emerge across time and space.

Her major exhibitions include "Reading the Present Address of Photography: Four Curated Exhibitions / Women and Mirages" (Hanmi Photography Museum, Seoul/South Korea, 2005), "JAPON" (Memac Centre d'art contemporain, Mézilhac/France, 2014), "Crossing Views / Regards Croisés - Switzerland Captured by Japanese Artists" (Tokyo, 2014 / Crans-Montana/Switzerland, 2014 / Stockholm/Sweden, 2017), "It Was, Probably, Me." (azumagaoka articulation, Yokohama, 2022), and "Femmes Objectif Japon" (Art Now Projects, Geneva/Switzerland, 2024).

She received the Ukai Kyokuba Award in 2002. In 2016, she published the photo book "Little World" in the "Le Pont Rouge" series by the French publisher iKi.

The Third Gallery Aya

Established in 1996, The Third Gallery Aya initially exhibited only photographic works. In 2004, it began handling paintings, videos, drawings, installations, and more. It has exhibited at Paris Photo and Art Basel in Basel, introducing contemporary art within an international context. In 2021, it celebrated its 25th anniversary.

About CADAN Butaiura

ArtSticker, an art platform operated by The Chain Museum Inc., and the Japan Contemporary Art Dealers Association (CADAN) are collaborating to launch "CADAN Butaiura" at Gallery & Restaurant Butaiura in Azabudai Hills starting this spring.

This project involves CADAN member galleries holding exhibitions in a relay format at "Gallery Butaiura."

By linking CADAN, which has pioneered the contemporary art market in Japan, with ArtSticker, an artist platform, we aim to promote Japanese and Asian artists to the world from Azabudai.

First installment: Yumi Nishimura Solo Exhibition "Exudate and Scab"

Information

Exhibition Name

Hiromi Kakimoto Solo Exhibition "Star Boy - Night of the Flood -"

Exhibition Period

Wednesday, July 8, 2026 - Sunday, August 2, 2026

Reservations for the reception from 6:00 PM on Thursday, July 9th, can be made here.

Artist

Hiromi Kakimoto

Business Hours

[Tuesday - Sunday]

11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Closed

Mondays

*If Monday is a public holiday, the following day will be closed.

Admission Fee

Free

Venue

Gallery Butaiura

Address

B1F, Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza A, 5-8-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001

＞Google Map

Access

Directly connected to Kamiyacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Exit 5, 1-minute walk.

Elevator available, barrier-free.

Wheelchair and stroller accessible.

Organizers

ArtSticker (Operated by: The Chain Museum), CADAN (Japan Contemporary Art Dealers Association), The Third Gallery Aya

Exhibition URL

https://artsticker.app/events/138173

About Gallery Butaiura

"Gallery Butaiura" is an art gallery produced by The Chain Museum Inc., the operator of ArtSticker. Designed as a space that encompasses not only artwork appreciation but also human interaction, much like performers and audiences engaging intimately backstage after a performance, it aims to foster such connections. The gallery features a diverse range of artists, from seasoned figures who have shaped art history globally to emerging talents attracting significant attention, sometimes incorporating culinary experiences and performances into its programming.

The space is constructed solely from steel pipe frames and temporary exhibition walls. Despite its modest size of 26 tsubo (approx. 86 sqm), it offers two distinct atmospheres by utilizing variations in floor height, lighting brightness and color temperature, and finishes. Through this unique spatial design, the gallery aims to provide a seamless experience of both the "front stage" and "backstage." It proposes a new viewing experience through the mutual interference of gazes and presences entering from all gaps.