Kumiko Muroi "Listening to the Voice of Sediment"
Gallery Momo Ryogoku
Until Jun 13
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Artists
Kumiko Muroi
Gallery MoMo Ryogoku is pleased to present "Listening to the Voice of Sediment", a solo exhibition by Kumiko Muroi, running from May 16 to June 13, 2026.
Throughout her career, Muroi has confronted fundamental themes of life and death, as well as the threshold between "Higan" (the other shore) and "Shigan" (this shore), rooted in personal experiences of loss, disaster, and illness. Her time living in the mountainous regions of Tohoku sparked a profound interest in the mountain worship of Yamagata. Subsequent physical journeys to sacred sites across Japan—including the Oshira-sama traditions of Tono, the spiritual grounds of Osorezan, and the Utaki of Okinawa—have led her to an even deeper and more resonant perspective on mortality.
Muroi’s work focuses on the "hazama" (in-between) opposite elements: light and darkness, memory and oblivion, joy and emptiness, and the boundary between "this side and the other side." Using a palette primarily of purples and grays with fluid, sweeping brushstrokes, she has established a unique style that defies simple classification as either figurative or abstract. Her canvases manifest contradictions and give form to the formless.
The exhibition title’s keyword, "Ori" (Sediment), refers to the matter that settles at the bottom of water, or the accumulation of forgotten emotions and souls. For Muroi, the annual rings of ancient trees, the layered cloths of Oshira-sama deities, and the layers of paint on her canvas are all equally "sediments of time."
In a departure from her previous darker tones, this exhibition features large-scale oil paintings with vibrant colors reminiscent of the open sky. Alongside these, the show will include monotypes and drawings—the latest works born from a dialogue with figurative forms and settled memories—offering a glimpse into a new stage of Muroi’s artistic expression.
As Muroi states, she seeks to "reflect the boundary itself, rather than choosing between figuration and abstraction." We invite you to experience the "voice of sediment" that rises from the interstices of her work, awakening a sense of the "other side" that we so often lose sight of in our daily lives.
Throughout her career, Muroi has confronted fundamental themes of life and death, as well as the threshold between "Higan" (the other shore) and "Shigan" (this shore), rooted in personal experiences of loss, disaster, and illness. Her time living in the mountainous regions of Tohoku sparked a profound interest in the mountain worship of Yamagata. Subsequent physical journeys to sacred sites across Japan—including the Oshira-sama traditions of Tono, the spiritual grounds of Osorezan, and the Utaki of Okinawa—have led her to an even deeper and more resonant perspective on mortality.
Muroi’s work focuses on the "hazama" (in-between) opposite elements: light and darkness, memory and oblivion, joy and emptiness, and the boundary between "this side and the other side." Using a palette primarily of purples and grays with fluid, sweeping brushstrokes, she has established a unique style that defies simple classification as either figurative or abstract. Her canvases manifest contradictions and give form to the formless.
The exhibition title’s keyword, "Ori" (Sediment), refers to the matter that settles at the bottom of water, or the accumulation of forgotten emotions and souls. For Muroi, the annual rings of ancient trees, the layered cloths of Oshira-sama deities, and the layers of paint on her canvas are all equally "sediments of time."
In a departure from her previous darker tones, this exhibition features large-scale oil paintings with vibrant colors reminiscent of the open sky. Alongside these, the show will include monotypes and drawings—the latest works born from a dialogue with figurative forms and settled memories—offering a glimpse into a new stage of Muroi’s artistic expression.
As Muroi states, she seeks to "reflect the boundary itself, rather than choosing between figuration and abstraction." We invite you to experience the "voice of sediment" that rises from the interstices of her work, awakening a sense of the "other side" that we so often lose sight of in our daily lives.
Schedule Now in session | May 16 (Sat) 2026-Jun 13 (Sat) 2026 22 days left Opening Hours Information
Reception for artist May 16 (Sat) 2026 17:00 - 19:00 | ||||
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| Fee | Free | ||||
| Venue | Gallery Momo Ryogoku https://en.gallery-momo.com/  | ||||
| Location | 1-7-15 Kamezawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0014 | ||||
| Access | 1 minute walk from exit A3 at Ryogoku Station on the Toei Oedo line, 5 minute walk from the East exit of Ryogoku Station on the JR Sobu line. | ||||
| Phone | 03-3621-6813 | ||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it  |
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