To conclude the 30th anniversary celebrations of Nakajima Art Gallery, we will be holding a solo exhibition by Japanese painter Kimio Muraoka titled "Memory Sound." New works created with the themes of "sound" and "memory" will be displayed in a space designed by the artist himself.
"Shooting Star" (2026) – Exhibited in the "Memory Sound" section of this exhibition.
As the culmination of the 30th anniversary of Nakajima Art Gallery in Ginza, which primarily showcases Japanese-style paintings, we will be holding a solo exhibition by Japanese painter Kimio Muraoka. This will be his first completely new work in seven years, and his ninth solo exhibition at Nakajima Art Gallery.
The title of this exhibition is "Memory Sound".
Muraoka has always viewed his presentations at Nakajima Art as a platform for new challenges, and while his work is based on Japanese painting, he has incorporated diverse materials and techniques to develop a world of art that goes beyond two-dimensional expression.
The themes Muraoka has chosen for this exhibition are "sound" and "memory." Through the meticulous brushwork unique to Japanese painting, he captures the existence of sounds that fade away with the passage of time and the ever-changing nature of memories, conveying the tension and anxiety lurking beneath the surface of stillness.
This exhibition transcends the boundaries of traditional Japanese painting, showcasing a collection of works born from exceptional skill and imagination, along with the delicate and subtly harmonious soundscapes incorporated within them. Furthermore, the exhibition space itself, designed by the artist, goes beyond mere artwork display, making it a major highlight. We encourage you to take a look.
"Shooting Star" 2026 *Image photo
"Butterflies and Canon," 2026. Exhibited in this exhibition (doors can be opened and closed).
"Astronomical Observation" (detail), 2026, exhibited in this exhibition.
"Memory Sound"
Sounds fade away with time. Sounds affect our memories and our unconscious minds.
What we have here is not eternity, but the present memories that are constantly changing and being overwritten.
The depicted images and composition are narrative yet fragmented and contain uncertainty.
This structure inherently invites different interpretations depending on the recipient.
The selection of materials itself inherently contains a sense of time; it is both a means of expression and something that "contains time."
These works are both an act of delving into my own inner world and a catalyst for connecting with the personal memories and emotions dormant within the viewer.
Kimio Muraoka
Kimio Muraoka, a Japanese painter who is gaining attention overseas.
Kimio Muraoka was born in Kyoto Prefecture in 1966. He studied Japanese painting at Tokyo University of the Arts and is based at the Japan Art Institute. Since his first acceptance into an exhibition in 1997, he has won numerous awards and was recommended as an associate member of the Japan Art Institute in 2014, making him one of the most noteworthy artists in the contemporary Japanese painting world.
Muraoka's works do not simply depict reality as it is, but rather reconstruct it through his unique use of color and composition. Empty figures, aged antiques, and motifs with venom or thorns are combined to create a beautiful yet somewhat unsettling image.
These works quietly stir the viewer's memories and emotions, creating a sense of the past and present intersecting.
Another characteristic is that, despite being a single image, it evokes multiple moments in time and stories.
In 2022, his first collection of works, "Kimio Muraoka Works Collection: The Secret Manor" (Akakasha), was published in both Japanese and Chinese. This year, he also published a collection of his paintings, "Kimio Muraoka," with the Spanish art book publisher The Guide Artists. Furthermore, he has expanded his activities internationally, including creating portraits at the request of the Brunei royal family.
Painter Kimio Muraoka and his "Memory Sound" exhibited works
Event Overview
| Exhibition Title | Kimio Muraoka Exhibition: Memory Sounds |
| Exhibition period | April 10th (Fri) – 23rd (Thu), 2026, 11:00 – 18:30 (Open every day during the exhibition period) |
| venue | Nakajima Art 3rd and 5th Floors, Abe Building, 5-5-9 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 |
| TEL | 03-3574-6008 |
| HP | https://www.nakajima-art.com |
| Admission fee | free |
The exhibition venue will also feature displays of past works, as well as the sale of catalogs and original merchandise.
At the exhibition venue, in addition to the exhibition catalog produced specifically for this exhibition, original goods supervised by the artist will be sold in limited quantities. They will also be available for purchase at the limited-time online shop (scheduled to open on Friday, April 10th). For details, please check the online shop. Nakajima Art Online Shop
In addition to the main venue on the 3rd floor, past works will be displayed in an archive booth on the 5th floor.
The collection of works that transcend the boundaries of traditional Japanese painting is also a must-see.
"The Magical Kirin" (2019), exhibited at the solo exhibition "Magical Animals".
"Mandala Flower" 2013 Solo exhibition "Time Prison" Exhibition works
Nakajima Art has hosted a total of eight solo exhibitions of Kimio Muraoka's work, starting with the "Rehabilitation and Protection Cover Exhibition" in 2006, up to 2022. These exhibitions have showcased the artist's unique worldview through the use of diverse materials, from two-dimensional and three-dimensional works to the composition of the exhibition space itself, and his work continues to evolve as he expands the possibilities of his creative process.
About Nakajima Art, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in Ginza.
Nakajima Art Co., Ltd. is based at a gallery located in Nishigoban-gai, Ginza 5-chome, and specializes in paintings, particularly Japanese-style paintings.
Since its opening in 1995, the gallery has served as a platform to widely convey the charm of Japanese painting, showcasing works by a wide range of artists, from masters to emerging talents. From the very beginning, the gallery has handled works by artists who have shaped the history of Japanese painting, including Japanese painter Fumiko Hori, who held new works exhibitions, as well as Tamako Kataoka and Ikuo Hirayama. In particular, Fumiko Hori held solo exhibitions every year during her lifetime, and even after her death, exhibitions have been held to commemorate her 80-year career as an artist.
In recent years, we have also been working to support the next generation of the art world by organizing exhibitions that provide a platform for young artists to take on new challenges. Last year, we held a new exhibition of works by Japanese painter Fuyuko Matsui, her first solo exhibition in 13 years, which attracted considerable attention.
Nakajima Art Gallery will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2025. We will continue to promote the charm of Japanese painting and move forward as a gallery that embodies the coexistence of tradition and innovation.
[From Nakajima Art Co., Ltd. press release ]
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