[Opening April 25] Solo Exhibition "Soft Landscape" by Nara-based artist Kana Akamatsu to be held at MOMENT

Kana Akamatsu creates abstract paintings that explore the balance between opposing forces in daily life, such as life and death, and nature and artifice. By collaging scenes and motifs before reconstructing them into her own imagery, she sharply isolates forms—plants, buildings, people—creating a tense balance on the canvas. Alongside her artistic practice, Akamatsu has balanced various roles, including working as an art teacher at high schools and free schools, as well as managing family farming and childcare. Following her departure from farming last year, she began to reflect on her identity while navigating these multiple roles. Reflecting on this, she stated, 'I feel as though by stepping away from all these roles, I have returned to my true self.' This realization led to her January 2026 exhibition, 'Us in the Center and at the Edges,' at the Nara Prefecture Convention Center, centered on themes of 'self,' 'life,' and 'nurturing.'

This exhibition continues to explore these recent themes, attempting to open her creative process further to engagement with others. From the start of the exhibition on Saturday, April 25, through Wednesday, May 27, Akamatsu will hold an artist residency, opening the venue as a public studio. Visitors will be able to interact freely with the artist while she works and participate in collaborative sessions where they can add their own drawings to the canvases. Starting Saturday, May 30, the exhibition will feature new works born from this residency and collaborative process. Additionally, the exhibition will showcase drawings co-created with her daughter and a collection of her past collage works.