In Sapporo's Higashi-ku, Picture Book and Cafe Goldilocks is currently hosting 'What is drawing?', a group exhibition by four painters. Unlike typical exhibitions where artworks are neatly arranged, this show's charm lies in its immersive space, where unsigned works and objects are mixed together, allowing you to engage with art on a sensory level. Come enjoy it along with the cozy, mountain lodge-style cafe.

View from the entrance. The cafe is on the right, and the main gallery space extends to the back.

The group exhibition 'What is drawing?' was planned by Hibiki Tsuge, an art writer for publications like 'Bijutsu Techo' and a painter himself. He says, "Among the contemporary artists I've seen in Sapporo over the past few years, I reached out to those who have a unique perspective on 'drawing' and 'expression,' and who consistently maintain a challenging stance every time I see their work." The participating artists are Chinatsu Aita, whose 2022 Sapporo Cultural Encouragement Award win is still fresh in our minds; Yasuo Kasami, who in recent years has presented his work in an installation (*) format that expands on the 'situation of viewing a painting'; Kota Homma, who, despite majoring in sculpture, began painting in 2021 after graduating; and Tsuge himself.

*Installation: A technique where the entire space is composed as a work of art using objects, devices, and other elements.

A talk event held on December 14 (Photo: Courtesy of the artists)

Tsuge describes the exhibition's spatial composition as being "like a free jazz improvisation, an attempt to create an art session where artists intentionally shift phrases or change rhythms in response to each other's play. It's an experimental installation space created in a single, high-stakes session." So, what is this exhibition actually like?

An installation mixing works by Kasami, Tsuge, and Aita (Photo: Courtesy of the artists)

The first things you'll notice in the main gallery are paintings without artists' names, displayed alongside a fish tank, a toppled display stand, and casually placed pieces of wood and blue tarps. You might find yourself asking, "Why is there a fish tank at a painters' group exhibition?" or "I wonder who painted this?" Amidst all these questions, you're sure to find a piece you can gaze at for ages or a setup that endlessly piques your curiosity. The key to this exhibition is to first rely on your own senses and enjoy the space as a whole.

An area where Tsuge's work overlaps with a collection of Homma's pieces (Photo: Courtesy of the artists)

Be sure to look carefully, as artworks are displayed in every corner of the venue—small drawings propped up on the floor, objects hanging from the lighting rails. After taking your time to appreciate the traces of the artists' exhibition process, grab a map that lists the work titles and artist names to find out who created what.

From there, you can appreciate the individuality of each artist that emerges, or revisit the works while pondering the meaning of their titles. Of course, you can look at the map from the start, but I personally recommend the "two-for-one" approach: first without the map, then with it.

The mountain lodge-style cafe is lined with picture books.

The owner of Picture Book and Cafe Goldilocks is Chinatsu Aita, one of the participating artists in this exhibition. She is at the cafe on Saturdays and Sundays, when she also sells her delicious homemade bread. (When I visited, I took home some canelés, which I also highly recommend!) There are also artworks displayed in the back of the cafe, so don't miss those. After viewing the exhibition, why not relax in the cafe with a picture book?