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After much anticipation, Nanzuka – one of Tokyo’s premier contemporary art galleries – has opened its brand-new flagship space in Shibuya Axsh, marking the gallery’s return to Shibuya after a 20-year absence.
Officially opened on September 12, the new gallery aims to make contemporary art more accessible through its concept of ‘social friendship’, bringing people together through art. Its open design features a doorless entrance and minimal walls, creating a welcoming space that naturally draws visitors into the exhibitions.
The inaugural exhibition celebrates contemporary Japanese artist Keiichi Tanaami with his solo show ‘Do Not Bomb’. Spanning works from the 1960s to unreleased pieces made before his death in 2024, the exhibition explores his memories of war through around 60 works, including silkscreens, collages, paintings, animations, sculptures and videos.
Tanaami’s artwork also features in the gallery’s new logo.
Drawing on childhood memories, Tanaami incorporated elements of post-war popular culture, from American comics and advertising to films and manga, into his work. The exhibition traces around 60 years of his artistic career, focusing on the ‘memories of war’ he continued to depict until shortly before his death.
The work closest to the entrance is ‘Do Not Bomb’, created while Tanaami was preparing for a large-scale solo exhibition in 2024. Made against the backdrop of ongoing wars around the world, the piece features a goldfish at its centre, flying towards the viewer like a cannonball.
The exhibition also features Tanaami’s ‘No More War’ series, which connects to ‘Do Not Bomb’. Created in 1967, the series was submitted to an anti-war poster contest hosted by American magazine Avant Garde in 1968, where it was selected as an outstanding work. Influenced by pop art, the silkscreen prints reflect Tanaami’s early interest in reaching a wider audience through reproduced imagery.
'Do Not Bomb' runs until October 17. For more information, visit the gallery website.
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