Contemporary Artist Hiroko Nakakita Solo Exhibition "Rinne"

Hyakka Ryoran - Pair of folding screens (each panel 1500 x 498mm) Oil on canvas, 2026

We are pleased to announce the solo exhibition "Rinne" by contemporary artist Hiroko Nakakita, to be held from July 15 (Wed) to July 20 (Mon, holiday), 2026, at the 6th-floor art gallery of Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. Main Building.

Regarding this solo exhibition, held in the year of her 25th anniversary as an artist, Hiroko Nakakita has provided the following statement:

In this solo exhibition, I will be creating works based on the themes of "apoptosis" and "reincarnation (Rinne)" which I have explored for many years.

"Apoptosis" depicts the process by which life, having fulfilled its role, connects to a new cycle, while "Rinne" portrays the flow of life, being reborn within that cycle and embracing change to move forward.

Having grown up in the Hanshin region, I have continued to create in silence for a long time.

The Hanshin region is a place where modern lifestyle culture and traditional values coexist, and it was also the cultural soil that fostered the birth of the Gutai Art Association after the war.

The richness and contradictions of this region have deeply influenced my sensibilities.

Furthermore, as I delve into the past, I am drawn to the figures of women who lived during the Taisho era.

Even in a society with many constraints, their "freedom within constraints," as they believed in their own sensibilities, chose their attire and way of life, and sought new forms of expression, shone with a quiet, unwavering will, influencing the depth of my work and the foundation of my expression.

By layering the environment of the Hanshin region and my own experiences with kimonos and their patterns, I superimpose the cycle and transformation of life, and the beauty of freedom within constraints, onto my works.

Wave patterns and bird motifs are incorporated into the works.

The wave pattern symbolizes the flow of time and the rhythm of change, reflecting the continuity of past and future and the fluctuations of the heart.

Birds, as beings that fly to the sky without a voice, are symbols of prayer, forgiveness, and rebirth.

Just as feathers fall and regrow, humans also let go of their old selves and transition to a new one.

I express the sense of a cycle connecting the past, present, and future.

Over 40 works, primarily new pieces, will be exhibited. Please enjoy Hiroko Nakakita's artistic world.

Selected Works

kaze-wataru Oil and acrylic on canvas, 2026

Hanahotaru I Oil on canvas, 2026

Ginbou Oil and thread (Nishijin) on canvas, 2026

Exhibition Overview

Exhibition Title: Hiroko Nakakita Solo Exhibition "Rinne"

Period: July 15 (Wed) - July 20 (Mon, holiday), 2026

Artist Present: July 15 (Wed), 19 (Sun), 20 (Mon, holiday)

Venue: Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. Main Building 6F Art Gallery (2-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)

Hours: 10:30 - 19:30

Inquiries: Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. Main Building 6F Art Gallery (General) 03-3211-4111

About Contemporary Artist Hiroko Nakakita

© K.Kurigami

Born in Hyogo Prefecture. After completing her Master of Fine Arts in Painting (Oil Painting) at Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School in 2006, she began her career as a painter. Based in studios in Kobe and California, she continues to create and exhibit her work both domestically and internationally. Born and raised in an old house, she paints with the theme of conflict between reason and emotion, constraint and freedom. Her work is characterized by colors born from overflowing emotions and dripping paint. In recent years, the new motif of "the cycle of life" has been added.

In 2021, she opened her own gallery, "Hiroko Nakakita," in the former foreign settlement of Kobe. Aiming for work development in unprecedented fields beyond painting, she also engages in joint development of products that utilize her unique worldview. She richly incorporates the spirituality of Japanese culture, such as kimonos, tea ceremony, dance, and crafts, further expanding the scope of her expression.

Official Website: https://hiroko-nakakita.com/

Official Instagram: @hirokonakakita_official