Fading Sounds, Transforming Memories — From Flat to Three-Dimensional, and into Space in Japanese Painting. Artist Kimio Muraoka's New Solo Exhibition to be Held in Ginza
As the culmination of Nakajima Art's 30th anniversary, Japanese painter Kimio Muraoka's solo exhibition "Kiokuon" will be held. New works created with the themes of "sound" and "memory" will be displayed in a space configured by the artist himself.
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- 📰 Published: April 2, 2026 at 22:47
As the culmination of Nakajima Art's 30th anniversary, a gallery in Ginza specializing in Japanese painting, a solo exhibition by Japanese painter Kimio Muraoka will be held. This will be his first completely new exhibition in 7 years, and his 9th solo exhibition at Nakajima Art.
The title of this exhibition is "Kiokuon" (Memory Sound).
Muraoka has always positioned his presentations at Nakajima Art as opportunities for new challenges, developing a world of works that go beyond two-dimensional expression by incorporating diverse materials and techniques, while rooted in Japanese painting.
For this exhibition, Muraoka chose the themes of "sound" and "memory." He captures the existence of sounds that fade with the passage of time and the ever-changing nature of memory on canvas, using the meticulous brushwork characteristic of Japanese painting, subtly imbued with tension and anxiety hidden beneath the tranquility.
The collection of works, created with exceptional skill and conceptual power that transcends the framework of Japanese painting, along with the delicate sound mechanisms quietly incorporated within them, and the exhibition space itself, configured by the artist, are major highlights of this exhibition. We invite you to experience it.
"Kiokuon"
Sounds that fade with time. Sounds affect memory and the unconscious.
What exists here is not eternity, but current memories that are constantly changing and being overwritten.
The depicted images and compositions are narrative yet fragmented, containing uncertainty.
This structure consistently induces different interpretations by the viewer.
The choice of materials also inherently contains temporality, existing as a means of expression and as "something that includes time."
These works are an act of delving into my own inner self, and at the same time, they function as a catalyst to connect with the personal memories and emotions dormant within the viewer.
Kimio Muraoka
Japanese Painter Kimio Muraoka, Gaining International Attention
Kimio Muraoka was born in Kyoto Prefecture in 1966. He studied Japanese painting at Tokyo University of the Arts and is active primarily with the Japan Art Institute. Since his first acceptance into an exhibition in 1997, he has received numerous awards, and in 2014, he was recommended as a member of the Japan Art Institute, making him one of the most notable artists in contemporary Japanese painting.
Muraoka's works do not depict reality as it is, but rather reconstruct it with his unique colors and compositions. Figures imbued with emptiness, aged antiques, and motifs with poison and thorns are combined to create a somewhat unsettling yet beautiful tableau.
These works quietly stir the viewer's memories and emotions, creating a sensation where past and present intersect. A characteristic feature is that a single painting can evoke multiple times and narratives.
In 2022, his first collection of works, "Kimio Muraoka Works: Secret Rituals" (Akaaka Art Publishing), was published in Japanese and Chinese editions. This year, the art book "Kimio Muraoka" was also published by the Spanish art book publisher The Guide Artists. Furthermore, he has expanded his activities abroad, including creating a portrait commissioned by the Brunei Royal Family.
Exhibition Overview
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Exhibition Name |
Kimio Muraoka Exhibition Kiokuon |
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Dates |
April 10 (Fri) - 23 (Thu), 2026, 11:00 - 18:30 (Open daily during the exhibition period) |
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Venue |
Nakajima Art Abe Building 3F/5F, 5-5-9 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 |
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TEL |
03-3574-6008 |
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HP |
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Admission |
Free |
Past works, catalogs, and original goods will also be sold at the exhibition venue.
At the exhibition venue, in addition to the catalog produced for this exhibition, limited edition original goods supervised by the artist will be sold. They will also be available for purchase at the temporary online shop (scheduled to open on Friday, April 10). Please check the online shop for details. Nakajima Art Online Shop
In addition, on the 5th floor, separate from the main venue on the 3rd floor, past works will be exhibited as an archive booth. The collection of works that transcend the boundaries of Japanese painting is a must-see.
Nakajima Art has held a total of 8 solo exhibitions by Kimio Muraoka from 2006, starting with the "Rehabilitation Protection Cover Exhibition," until 2022. These solo exhibitions have showcased the artist's unique worldview, utilizing diverse materials and expanding the possibilities of creation, from two-dimensional and three-dimensional works to the configuration of the exhibition space itself, with his works continuously evolving.
About Nakajima Art, Celebrating its 30th Anniversary in Ginza
Nakajima Art Co., Ltd. operates a gallery in Ginza 5-chome, Nishi-Gobangai, primarily dealing in paintings, especially Japanese painting.
Since its opening in 1995, it has served as a platform to widely convey the charm of Japanese painting, introducing works by a wide range of artists, from masters to young talents. From its early days, it has handled works by artists who have built the history of Japanese painting, such as Fumiko Hori, who held new exhibitions annually during her lifetime, as well as Tamako Kataoka and Ikuo Hirayama. In particular, Fumiko Hori held annual solo exhibitions during her lifetime, and even after her passing, exhibitions are held to showcase her 80 years of artistic activity.
In recent years, the gallery has also organized special exhibitions as a venue for new challenges by young artists, supporting the next generation of the art industry. Last year, a new exhibition by Japanese painter Fuyuko Matsui, her first solo exhibition in 13 years, garnered significant attention.
Nakajima Art, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025, will continue to promote the appeal of Japanese painting and walk as a gallery that coexists with tradition and innovation.
FAQ
When will Kimio Muraoka's solo exhibition "Kiokuon" be held?
It will be held from Friday, April 10 to Thursday, April 23, 2026, at Nakajima Art in Ginza.
What are the highlights of this solo exhibition?
Highlights include new works themed on "sound" and "memory," three-dimensional and spatial expressions that transcend traditional Japanese painting, and the exhibition space designed by the artist himself.
What kind of gallery is Nakajima Art?
Based in Ginza, it is a gallery celebrating its 30th anniversary, showcasing a wide range of Japanese painting artists from masters to young talents.