[Opening April 25] Solo Exhibition "Soft Landscapes" 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 carves out forms—plants, buildings, and people—creating a tense balance on the canvas. In addition to her work as an artist, 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 multiple roles. Reflecting on this, she stated, 'I feel as though I have returned to my true self after stepping away from all those roles.' This realization led to her January 2026 exhibition, 'Us in the Center and at the Edges,' at the Nara Prefecture Convention Center, centered on the themes of 'self,' 'life,' and 'nurturing.'

This exhibition continues her recent exploration, aiming to open her creative process further to interactions with others. From the start of the exhibition on Saturday, April 25, through Wednesday, May 27, Akamatsu will hold an artist-in-residence period, opening the venue as an atelier. Visitors will be able to interact freely with the artist as she works and participate in a collaborative project 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, alongside drawings co-created with her daughter and a selection of her past collage works.