Extraordinary solo exhibition held at Shibuya Hikarie, the epicenter of culture

Shibuya, Tokyo, is a trendy city. Artists who have created many noble yet mysterious and unique portrait paintings, and have held solo exhibitions by artists with many fans both domestically and internationally.

Period: 2021/7/1 (Thu) to 7/6 (Tue)
Venue: Shibuya Hikarie 8th Floor 8/ CUBE 1,2,3 2-21-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0002

Shibuya Hikarie, the center of culture

In a changing era, Tokyo and Shibuya are pioneering trends. It is a center of ever-changing culture such as fashion, film, and art. Large-scale redevelopment is underway around Shibuya Station, where 9 railway lines run and 3 million people come and go every day. Starting with the opening in 2012/4, the high-rise complex “Shibuya Hikarie” located at the east exit was opened. It has 34 floors above ground and 4 floors underground, along Meiji Street, which runs through the north and south of Shibuya, and is said to be visited by about 50,000 people a day.

On the 8th floor, the creative space “8/ (Hachi)” (https://www.hikarie8.com/about/）が本展示の舞台). It's a quiet and sophisticated space that sets it apart from the busy city atmosphere.

Creative space “8/”

“8/” has multiple areas on the same floor, each connected through creation, and designed so that more people can gather.

This solo exhibition is in an area named “CUBE 1, 2, 3.” This is a gallery for exhibitions, and the space looks like a glass cube. An overwhelming number of visitors can be expected from its location, and in turn, new encounters.

Solo exhibition at a different timing than normal

In addition to oil painting works that have received praise in many places until now, there are a total of 45 works on display, including 20 photographic works that have not been shown until now. The visitors were overwhelmed by the gaze directed from inside the painting.

This exhibition was held at a timing just before the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which had been postponed from 2020 due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection and had been similarly postponed. As many events and festivals, both domestically and internationally, were postponed or forced to be canceled, and people lost opportunities to come into contact with art and entertainment, this exhibition was held in between periods when a state of emergency was declared. It was an exhibition that was different from normal and had a different special meaning.

It was a time when conditions were definitely not good due to COVID-19 and the rainy season, but there were many visitors who stayed for a long time, and they spent their time being intoxicated by that view of the world. It was an exhibition that made me feel once again that people need art no matter what the world is in.