ARTICLES
Choco Pie as Japanese Painting? Yuka Kasai's Solo Exhibition Offers a Hint for Navigating the SNS Age
Currently at Gallery Monma in Sapporo is the solo exhibition of Nihonga (Japanese-style) painter Yuka Kasai, titled "Waving to Each Other from a Distance." The gallery features Japanese paintings and three-dimensional works with subjects from our daily lives, like Choco Pies and stuffed animals, each paired with a humorous title. Let's introduce the charm of this contemporary Nihonga exhibition that you can enjoy in a relaxed way!
A Choco Pie in a Japanese Painting? The Unique Charm of Intriguing Subjects and Titles
《Unconditional Love》 Color on paper, mineral pigments, mica, oil-based pen / 2025
Yuka Kasai is a Nihonga painter whose work has been featured in exhibitions and art fairs both in Japan and internationally. When you hear "Nihonga," you might picture monochrome landscape paintings or portraits of beauties in kimonos, but her take on Japanese painting is a bit unique. From "Unconditional Love," which depicts a Choco Pie, to "For the Passersby, or for the Stuffed Toy," showing a stuffed animal peeking out a window, her subjects are scenes that everyone can relate to, paired with titles that make you smirk. A major part of her work's appeal is that you can enjoy it without any pretense.
《For the Passersby, or for the Stuffed Toy》 Color on paper, mineral pigments / 2025
Among the works on display, the three-dimensional piece titled "Overprotection" is one you should definitely check out at the venue, as it's likely to make you think, "That's so true!"
Artworks That Offer Hints for Distancing Yourself from the Anxieties of the SNS Age
View of the exhibition hall
What thoughts went into creating this exhibition? In her opening statement, Kasai explains:
In our modern world where we can easily access all kinds of information, everything from events happening in distant countries to the lives of those close to us comes rushing before our eyes with the same sense of proximity. As a result, we may feel that others' problems are our own, and the boundary between ourselves and others tends to become blurred. Despite differences in our environments and ways of thinking, we forget these differences and find ourselves judging or opining based on our own standards. There should be a proper distance to be kept between ourselves and others.
《Just Between Us》 Color on paper, mineral pigments / 2025
The exhibition features works that encourage us to reconsider our distance from people and things, such as "Just Between Us," which contemplates a comfortable distance with others through the scene of a casual chat in a smoking area.
Don't Miss the Artist's New Endeavors, Including an Unmanned Shop Inside the Venue
《Go with the Flow, but Steer the Rudder》 Color on paper, ink, resin clay, mineral pigments, wood / 2025
In this exhibition, you can also enjoy new forms of expression, including three-dimensional works. These include "Go with the Flow, but Steer the Rudder," created with the intention to "focus on my own thoughts and feelings and not be swept away in the wrong direction," even while being exposed to a vast amount of information. There is also an unmanned shop selling palm-sized, amulet-like Sekimori-ishi (barrier stones placed as a sign to indicate "no entry beyond this point").
Sekimori-ishi made with pebbles found in places like Ishikari and Shiretoko
I hope you will visit this exhibition to smirk at the familiar scenes from daily life and their witty titles, and experience how the artist's attempt at "distance rehabilitation" can make you feel a little lighter from tomorrow. (I couldn't resist buying a Sekimori-ishi myself.)
Yuka Kasai Solo Exhibition "Waving to Each Other from a Distance"
■Dates: September 13 (Sat) - October 5 (Sun), 2025
■Hours: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
■Venue: Gallery Monma (2-3-38 Asahigaoka, Chuo-ku, Sapporo)
■Admission: Free
■Closed: Tuesdays, Wednesdays
Click here for details and map information for 'Yuka Kasai Solo Exhibition "Waving to Each Other from a Distance"'
Writer's Profile
Writer Nio Matsuda
From 2007 to 2010, I published a free paper called "WG" while starting my career as a freelance writer in 2010. I have a particular fondness for performing arts and fine art. I have been purchasing artworks, mainly paintings, from galleries since around 2002. I hope my reports here will help someone find that "one piece" for themselves.
“Spread the word about your activities in 5 minutes!” Easy event posting on Domingo!
Why not share the wonderful initiatives of everyone active in Hokkaido with a wider audience? Posting an event on Domingo takes just 5 minutes, and it's free and easy for anyone. You can widely disseminate your activities and ideas, and you might even get a chance to be featured in an article by Domingo or on street visions in Sapporo.
First-timers can get started easily from here.
