[Image: "Brilliant Glazes" 52.5x7cm]

"Portration" is a coined phrase, meaning a mixture of portraiture and installation. Under the theme of portraiture, this unusual exhibition is Yuusuke Nakamura's first in five years. On the second floor for two weeks will be displayed in full color the pictures of three hundred people, drawn on site. On the first floor will be shown numerous original illustrations from Nakamura's previous exhibitions.

*Exhibiting at KANOKO

Focusing on the concept of a room, the works will be displayed in a showroom inspired manner. [Image: Tomoko Iwai]

"Pictures whose heart dances in unrestricted color. Sculptures whose unwavering presence never drops. In my hands if only I can blend these two things together..." (Statement by the artist)

The exhibition displays an assortment of portfolios by various artists. They will be scattered across the room on shelves and on the walls. Visitors are welcomed to sit on a chair and look through them.

Tackling in photographs, from the point of view of the so-called "student", the "now" of oneself and one's work, through by having it seen by others, one's expression can be looked at anew. Further, by connecting with people who are not in fact students and classmates, the aim is to come together creatively. From this concept, Nadar has been holding annually since 2000 the "Students Who Express" exhibition. Every year the project stages stimulating interaction between numerous different school's students.

Art Party: April 18th (Fri) 20:00-5:00 *For more information please visit the URL below

Yuge's illustration work employs Indian-ink drawings and Japanese traditional goods, such as hanging scrolls, folding fans, and kimono.

This is an exhibition of works that have captured the mysterious power of light.

*Exhibiting at AMI

During the Edo period, Ukiyo-e prints were a genuine form of media, and were sometimes a central force in initiating trends. In this particular exhibition, the focus will be on the actors' hair styles portrayed in these prints, which were more often than not an art of its own.

This exhibition features artworks from the Heian period that have been selected from the museum collection.

The 200 works on display are all originals.

"If a painting has no intensity, if it has no emotion, then it is worth nothing." (Statement by the artist) *Exhibiting at 58

Having brought numerous commercials to the world as a director of TV commercials, Shinya Nakajima has constantly commanded the focus of attention in the advertising industry. In 1987 he was among the first to introduce digital technology into commercials, offering graphic designers and art directors the opportunity to enter the TV commercial industry. Ever since, he has been the foremost figure of the new digital video age. Marking the 20th anniversary of the birth of digital video, this exhibition introduces the world of Shinya Nakajima’s TV commercials, on which he has collaborated with 29 front-rank art directors. [Image: ©Shinya Nakajima]

This exhibition features about 110 treasures that have been kept by the three temples, Eifuku-ji, Yachu-ji, and Taiseisyogun-ji, which have a strong relationship with Prince Shotoku. Exhibition highlights include screen paintings from the 14th century that depict the life of Prince Shotoku. These paintings have also gone through a major restoration and their vibrant colors will be available for public view after 500 years. [Image: "Pictorial biography of Prince Shotoku" (Nambokucho to Muromachi period) courtesy of Eifuku-ji, Osaka]

Our forefathers would learn that by "drawn" brushstrokes the actions of the body remained, and this grew to an understanding of "division" in the outline and borders of objects. By the action of these two lines, mankind became aware of the world, of tools and of language, cultivating civilization, before giving birth to art. If we unravel art history, through the "drawn" line, centered on the essential components of sketching, ink painting and calligraphy, we were able to arrive at feeling articulated by expressionism, a development continuing unbroken to our present day of "painting through gesture". The "dividing" line, forming the foundations of geometry and architecture, has brought us the rules of perspective and composition, and even now is the structure of modern design and minimalism. This exhibition will display about 60 works from Zen writing, modern painting, contemporary design, in each of which is hidden the double line of drawing and division, the reading of which will give us a deepened opportunity to understand art. [Image: Tadaaki Kuwayama "Blue" from the series "Olive, Green Blue, Violet Purple" (1966)]

The exhibition features about 70 recent lacquer ware works from the Ryukyu Islands.

The exhibition features some 120 kokeshi dolls.

This exhibition features about 80 items.

Ken Hamazaki uses rice covered in gold leaf, which are then pasted on a material to create a maze. A golden rice is symbolic of good fortune in the Buddhist sphere. However, typically it is only one grain of rice that is regarded good luck. Thus when there are plenty, does it mean that there are too many dieties? Or is it a rejection of religion? These questions are asked to the audience. Opening Party: May 5th (Mon) 17:00-20:00 [Image: Nico "Maze Painting" (1997)]

Traditional art works including the Osaka Ranma, sculptures, Osaka's Chinese wood sculptures, and the Fukae cauldron, will be on display. These works have been recognized by the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Osaka prefecture.

Opening Party: May 14th (Wed) 19:00-

[Image: "Flying" part 30]

*Exhibiting at 1F gallery

“Highways change the ordinary scenery. They run in the sky with their greatness, curves and laps. People end up getting used to seeing them, but I think it's very strange.” (Statement by the artist) *Exhibiting at KANOKO

The exhibition features 40 artists from Japan and around the world that will join together to show their works across a vast range of media. The exhibition is divided into two one-week shows, with artworks grouped by media. Painting, Sculpture: May 20th - 25th Photography, Video/New Genres: May 27th - June 1st Performance Art Live Event: May 31st 20:00- Opening Reception: May 20th (Tue) 19:00- Closing Reception: May 31st (Sat) 19:00-

The exhibition features photographs captured by diverse artists at the same time, in three pre-determined times at different places.

On New Year's Day 2008, the photographer Masafumi Uchino died suddenly at the age of 34. Uchino had been photographing Kyoto's Yasaka Shrine on New Year's Eve until, just after the new year broke, at one o'clock in the morning he collapsed and, although taken to hospital, he died before dawn. Uchino traversed and photographed every part of Japan, leaving behind a large body of work. In mourning for his all too early death and synchronizing with the exhibition at the Nikon Salon (5/22-5/28) arranged before he died, Uchino's supporters will hold these dual memorial shows. At Nadar will be exhibited a selection of 20 of his color prints, including "Cellphone and Mirror" and "Idol". Further, Gallery 176 will show from May 24th to June 3rd the photographs of his immersion in Kyoto life until he moved. Alongside his comment "I, to the Capital" there remains these six previously unpublished monochrome prints. [Image: Masafumi Uchino "Cellphone and Mirror"]

"My aim is to use the minutely changing faces of the commonplace things from daily life, those inexorably fading away in concurrence with destiny, to express something that gets a little closer to a sense of being." (Statement by the artist)