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Hiroki Nakano "Memories of Water"

Kichijoji Art Museum

Until Sep 6

Artists

Hiroki Nakano

For more than two decades, painter Hiroki Nakano (b. 1981) has explored a single, endlessly changing subject: water. Beginning with oil paint before moving to acrylics and later mineral pigments, Nakano has continually experimented with materials in pursuit of the beauty of the natural world. The artist's focus has gradually shifted from snow-covered landscapes and waves to water itself, capturing its movement from above, below and within.

Nakano's delicate brushwork conveys more than the ever-changing forms of water. Layers of color suggest flowing currents, while every splash and ripple creates a vivid sense of rhythm and movement. The paintings evoke such a strong physical presence that they almost seem to carry the sound of water itself.

Another distinctive feature of Nakano's work is the use of circular canvases inspired by the traditional Japanese round window. Drawing on the Japanese aesthetic of ikedoru, framing and preserving a fleeting moment of natural beauty, the artist captures transient expressions of water observed in everyday life. Rather than freezing a single instant, the works reveal water as something constantly shifting and alive.

"I want to preserve the beautiful yet fleeting expressions of water and hold them in my gaze. I want to express the sound and the wind of that place." Water has remained at the heart of Nakano's practice throughout the years. Bringing together early and recent works, Memories of Water traces the artist's enduring dialogue with this ever-changing element.

[Related Events]
1. Workshop: Painting with Gofun
Date: August 2, 10:00–12:00 / 13:00–15:00
Instructor: Hiroki Nakano
Venue: Music Room
Fee: ¥1000 (first come, first served)
2. Workshop: Painting Water
Date: August 23, 13:00–16:00
Instructor: Hiroki Nakano
Venue: Music Room
Fee: ¥1000 (first come, first served)
*For event details and how to make a reservation, please check the official website.

Schedule

Now in session

Jul 25 (Sat) 2026-Sep 6 (Sun) 2026 24 days left