Mikako Nakagami Solo Exhibition

Things Only They Can See This exhibition presents one of her poetic series of sumi ink paintings that blend traditional Japanese brushwork with abstract calligraphy. Nakagami’s work often tells wordless stories through ink and space. In this series, cats take center stage. Among the animals that seem to dwell close to the threshold between the seen and unseen, cats appear especially attuned to something sacred, delicate, and mysterious. Through sumi ink, abstract calligraphic lines, and the expressive use of empty space, Nakagami creates ambiguous inner landscapes in which animals seem to sense, hear, and play with something beyond human perception. Each work invites viewers to feel rather than explain the presence of that elusive “something,” and perhaps to encounter something precious within themselves that quietly exists beyond the visible. The Kyoto exhibition is a touring presentation of the solo exhibition first shown in Tokyo last year, while also featuring a number of new works. Nakagami’s picture book, published in France earlier this year, will also be available at the exhibition.