We are pleased to present a solo exhibition by Yuji Kanamaru at ShinQs Gallery 5.
For many years, Kanamaru has explored themes of time and life through depictions of animals, including ancient fish and turtles.
A distinctive feature of his work is its richly textured surface, created using materials such as burlap and fragments of English-language newspapers, often incorporating crackled effects. Layers of vivid yet gentle color further give his paintings their unique presence. The animals that inhabit these works appear humorous and familiar, while at the same time evoking a sense of mystery associated with lives that seem to endure across vast stretches of time.
Kanamaru’s childhood years spent in the Middle East have also left a lasting impression on his visual language. A dry, arid atmosphere, unfamiliar cityscapes, and curious imaginary creatures emerge throughout his works, creating a distinctive world in which nostalgia and a sense of the foreign quietly coexist.
This exhibition brings together the richly colored world that Kanamaru has continued to develop through the animals that have long been central to his practice.
We invite you to discover, beyond these familiar and approachable creatures, Kanamaru’s enduring contemplation of time and life.
We are pleased to present a solo exhibition by Yuji Kanamaru at ShinQs Gallery 5.
For many years, Kanamaru has explored themes of time and life through depictions of animals, including ancient fish and turtles.
A distinctive feature of his work is its richly textured surface, created using materials such as burlap and fragments of English-language newspapers, often incorporating crackled effects. Layers of vivid yet gentle color further give his paintings their unique presence. The animals that inhabit these works appear humorous and familiar, while at the same time evoking a sense of mystery associated with lives that seem to endure across vast stretches of time.
Kanamaru’s childhood years spent in the Middle East have also left a lasting impression on his visual language. A dry, arid atmosphere, unfamiliar cityscapes, and curious imaginary creatures emerge throughout his works, creating a distinctive world in which nostalgia and a sense of the foreign quietly coexist.
This exhibition brings together the richly colored world that Kanamaru has continued to develop through the animals that have long been central to his practice.
We invite you to discover, beyond these familiar and approachable creatures, Kanamaru’s enduring contemplation of time and life.
Yuji Kanamaru
Yuji Kanamaru
Born in Kanagawa in 1978.
Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts.
Working from a foundation in Nihonga, he develops a distinctive painterly language
defined by unique textures and layered, vibrant yet subtle colors.
Incorporating elements such as fabric, fragments of newspapers, and intentional cracks,
his surfaces generate a singular material presence.
Influenced by his childhood spent in the Middle East,
his work evokes a world where a sense of the unfamiliar and nostalgia intersect.
Yuji Kanamaru
Born in Kanagawa in 1978.
Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts.
Working from a foundation in Nihonga, he develops a distinctive painterly language
defined by unique textures and layered, vibrant yet subtle colors.
Incorporating elements such as fabric, fragments of newspapers, and intentional cracks,
his surfaces generate a singular material presence.
Influenced by his childhood spent in the Middle East,
his work evokes a world where a sense of the unfamiliar and nostalgia intersect.
◼︎ 作家在廊予定
9月22日（火・祝）13:00〜
