PRESS RELEASE

Kazuto Imura Solo Exhibition“The N-Lemma Posed by Compromise”■Period■HoursMarch 23 (Saturday), 2024 - April 20 (Saturday), 2024
Wednesdays through Saturdays 13:00 - 18:00(closed on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and National Holidays)■VenueKANA KAWANISHI GALLERY
4-7-6 Shirakawa, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0021 JAPAN▼OPENING RECEPTIONMarch 23 (Saturday), 2024 | 17:00-18:00

tele portrait error
2024 | glass, aluminum, frame | 698 × 407 mm© Kazuto Imura, courtesy KANA KAWANISHI GALLERY, photo by Yuki Kawanishi

KANA KAWANISHI GALLERY is pleased to present “The N-Lemma Posed by Compromise,” a solo
exhibition by Kazuto Imura starting March 23, 2024.
Imura is an artist who has consistently pursued the motif of “mirror” with exceptional depth since he started
his career as an artist in 2021. By taking a multifaceted approach to all elements related to the mirror surface,from obsidian excavated from ruins in B.C. to contemporary optical equipment and materials from all overJapan, he continues to comprehensively question the various problems posed by the question “Who am I?”■Please contact below for any image enquiries■
KANA KAWANISHI GALLERY PR: Jun Orikasa Exhibition: Kana Kawanishi

gallery@kanakawanishi.com +81 (0)3-5843-9128

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PRESS RELEASEIn this exhibition, his first solo show at KANA KAWANISHI GALLERY, Imura will present his uniqueexpression for the first time, which could be called something intermediate between glass, mirror, andphotography.
The word “dilemma,” as suggested by the prefix “di,” which stands for the number two, indicates thecontradiction or difficulty one is forced to face when faced with two alternatives. In this exhibition, Imura uses
the term “N-Lemma” coined by himself, to extract the myriad claims, facts, possibilities, options, andcompromises that human society has held, to sublimate them into an exhibition.
“Only one knows one’s inner self, and only others can see one’s outer self. Mirror images and photographs areimages of re-presentation of appearances, not themselves. In other words, there is no one who knows both theinside and the outside.” These are Imura’s own words, but when we look closer at the mirror, which haspermeated our daily lives worldwide, we realize that it contains a very primitive question.
Who am I? The dilemma is that only one can know one’s inner self, while one’s outer self can only berecognized by others. We cordially invite all to this exhibition, which will showcase Imura’s new expression
confronting the complexity of contemporary society while delving into the motif of the “mirror,” which is said
to have been a fundamental desire and extremely mysterious from ancient times in its own way.

mirror in the rough 3928g
2024 | glass | H150 × W204 × D105 mm© Kazuto Imura, courtesy KANA KAWANISHI GALLERY,
photo by Yuki Kawanishitele portrait square 450 (detail)2024 | glass, aluminum, frame | 481 × 481 mm© Kazuto Imura, courtesy KANA KAWANISHI GALLERY
photo by Yuki Kawanishi■Please contact below for any image enquiries■
KANA KAWANISHI GALLERY PR: Jun Orikasa Exhibition: Kana Kawanishi

gallery@kanakawanishi.com +81 (0)3-5843-9128

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PRESS RELEASEThe N-Lemma Posed by Compromise

The world is full of information that is equivalent to “not saying anything.”
A conversation always concludes with the advice to “try as hard as possible to achieve the best possible balance for eachperson.” In addition to considerations towards life, rules, and environmental issues, we are also experiencing new units andreference values introduced by experts, as well as unspoken rules that simultaneously arise with platforms. We find it
impossible to satisfy ourselves when we are surrounded by such vast arrays of choices that are more than just a dilemma.
As we gain knowledge, we realize our own ignorance. We fear that we will not be able to compensate for the unseen
perspectives, and the distribution of possibilities with our imagination, resulting in the fear to speak easily. In order to assert
one thing, one must avoid discrepancies by annotating more than the text, while eliminating the possibility of incitement toothers at the same time.
Overwhelmed by such a situation, I exhibit mirrors left with various traces.
The mirror, born of compromise, is a quiet mirror that cannot even properly claim to be a mirror.
Kazuto Imura

Artist Profile

Kazuto Imura was born in 1990 in Kyoto, Japan. He received his B.F.A. from Kyoto City University of Arts in2015. He completed his M.F.A. at Tokyo University of the Arts, the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Department ofIntermedia Art in 2017.
Only one can know one’s inner self, while only others can see one’s outer appearance. Mirror images andphotographs are images of re-presentation of appearances, not themselves. In other words, there is no one whoknows both the inside and the outside. Interested in this fact, Imura creates works on the theme of showing others
the mirror that contains himself. He traverses materials and techniques such as optical devices, mirrors that do notreflect, magic mirrors, obsidian, and rotating liquid mirrors. He traces the transition of the relationship between
humans and mirrors from contemporary science to archaeological perspectives such as mythology and rituals.
Recent major solo exhibitions include “mmmwm” (2023, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Contemporary Gallery, Tokyo), “Æ/æ”(2022, MA5 Gallery, Tokyo), and “quaquaqua” (2021, DiEGO Omotesando, Tokyo).
Group exhibitions include “MATSUMOTO Architecture + Art Festival” (2023 and 2022, Nagano, Japan), “EndlessGreen Mountains 3: The Tang Poetry Road, a Special Exhibition of Works by Chinese and Japanese Artists” (2022,Zhejiang Exhibition Hall, Zhejiang, China), “Sense Island Sarushima Dark Museum 2021” (2021, Sarushima, Kanagawa, Japan).

■Please contact below for any image enquiries■
KANA KAWANISHI GALLERY PR: Jun Orikasa Exhibition: Kana Kawanishi

gallery@kanakawanishi.com +81 (0)3-5843-9128

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