Nanzuka Underground finally has a bigger and better space – a dedicated flagship gallery in its very own building. A big move from its former basement location, the gallery is now situated down the trendy backstreets of Urahara, adjacent to the Harajuku United Arrows building. The gallery comprises four floors, two of which are used for exhibitions, while the upper floors are dedicated to offices and expansive terraces that look out onto the streets of Harajuku.
Out front, you’ll find Nanzuka Underground's signature Hajime Sorayama-designed logo and a rusty façade painted by artist Tetsuya Nakamura. The gallery opened on June 5 with a solo exhibition featuring Masato Mori's vivid works and subsequent shows with Haroshi, Christian Rex van Minnen and Wahab Saheed will follow over the next few months.
The gallery aims to help Tokyo rediscover postwar Japanese artists who have either been ignored or forgotten, such as pop artist Keiichi Tanaami, who created ‘No More War’, a psychedelic anti-war poster, and Sorayama, whose works often portray feminine robots in super-surreal and erotic styles.
The gallery also supports emerging Japanese artists by providing them with a stepping stone into the international art scene. Nanzuka is often involved in collaborations with creatives in other industries – such as fashion, design and music – which expands its influence beyond the borders of fine art. You’ll find Nanzuka's second smaller gallery space inside 2G at Shibuya Parco.