gallery UG Tennoz is pleased to present “One Brief Memory,” a solo exhibition by gallery artist Ryosuke KAWAHIRA, on view from Friday, October 9 through Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Ryosuke KAWAHIRA
1991 - Born in Aichi Prefecture
2014 - Graduated from Nagoya University of the Arts
Since 2020, Kawahira has been working at gallery UG as a represented artist.
One of his starting points was his childhood memories of “the things that scared him for no reason”.
In the dark night, the ghosts or monsters that appeared in his dreams, even after waking up he felt their lingering presence in the corner of the room and couldn’t even go to the washroom alone.
Using those bedwetting memories from his childhood as a starting point, Kawahira reimagines those feelings of fear, worry and helplessness that are engraved into a young child’s body from his own unique perspective and transforms them into art.
Kawahira doesn’t focus on the act of bedwetting itself.
But rather the memories of apologizing to his wet underwear in the morning after the accident. Alongside the guilt of making such a mistake, there is a pure, almost affectionate feeling towards something so close to him.
“What if my underwear had a will of its own?”
From this childlike imagination, gave birth to Pants-kun.
Created as something who could face the scary things in his place and protect him, Pants-kun would evolve and become a symbol in Kawahira’s world of art.
Originally, he used actual briefs as his canvas to represent a child’s heart but in 2021, he would repurpose that theme into the form of a character. Drawn with thick clear lines and vivid colors, at first glance Pants-kun looks like a comical and friendly character but behind that lies a child’s loneliness, guilt and the sincere wish to be protected by someone.
Pants-kun is in no way an invincible hero.
In the face of monsters, he would fight back with axes, bats and even a crowbar in hand but he can be captured, hurt and even tortured at times.
He is both a protector and the injured.
His appearance doesn’t simply capture that of strength and righteousness but portrays the contradictions and invulnerability humans have.
Humor and worry, youth and violence, to fight and to get hurt all of these opposing elements coexist in a single frame. Behind the pop and humorous expression, the feelings of worry, loneliness as well as the distance between us and reality for when things don’t go the way we planned them; feelings which anyone has start to surface.
In recent years, he included his perspective as a father into his art. The fear he felt as a child overlaps with his current perspective as he watches his child grow, expanding his art in new ways.
The ghosts and monsters that used to scare him now seem to have disappeared as he became an adult. But the worry and wavering feeling they represented didn’t disappear with them. For Kawahira, creating art is an act of digging up those feelings remaining deep in those memories and changing into something different. Rather than just nostalgically looking back at his personal childhood experiences, he reimagines the weakness and confusion in those moments from a contemporary perspective, while combining humor and satire.
Pants-kun isn’t a hero who overcame fear.
He is a hero who still stands against the monsters while holding onto fear and weakness.
Somewhat ridiculous in a way, slightly worrying but at the same time is strangely familiar. While his appearance was born from the memories of a child, it has become a reflection of the feelings everyone feels.
The desire to be protected and the will to face challenges even while being hurt.
Through the humorous theme of “Pants”, Kawahira brilliantly illustrates both the weakness and humor of people.
gallery UG Fukuoka is pleased to present a special exhibition featuring Takaoki TAJIMA.
Takaoki Tajima was born in Chiba. In 2000, he graduated from the Department of Sculpturing at Aichi University of the Arts. Born into a family of Buddhist sculptors spanning five generations, Tajima has been familiar with Buddhist statues and sculptures from a young age. Through crossing paths with sculpting, painting and even language he expresses the fundamental question of “how the world appears to us”. At the heart of his artistic expression is a humorous mindset where absurdity and sorrow can turn into laughter. He has gained widespread acclaim and overwhelming support not only in Japan but also in the international art scene particularly across Asia.
This exhibition will feature new drawings shown in Fukuoka for the first time, ahead of the solo exhibition at gallery UG Tennoz along with the doodle series. These artworks while humorous also carry a mysterious sense of tension that piques the imagination of the viewer.
Technique and memory, lightness and depth, laughter and sorrow. We invite you to experience Tajima’s diverse artistic expression that moves freely between these contrasting elements.
Rei ITAYAJunko ASANORyosuke KAWAHIRANobuko NUMANOKunihiko NOHARANaoki NOMURA
"LIVING IN ART｜JAPANESE CONTEMPORARY ART" 引三川 × gallery UG
引三川 , Taipei City, Taiwan
gallery UG in collaboration with 引三川 IHC (IN HOUSE COLLECTION) is pleased to present「LIVING IN ART｜JAPANESE CONTEMPORARY ART」exhibition, held at 引三川 IHC from Saturday, October 3rd, 2026 to Monday, November 2nd, 2026 in Taipei.
With the theme of “living within art”, we present a space that blends Japanese contemporary modern art with high quality imported furniture from America and Europe’s top brands.
gallery UG will be presenting various forms of Japanese contemporary art created from many different forms of expression such as oil paintings, sculptures, photos and more. Rich in color and full of humor, the artworks have been selected to convey the distinctive personalities and individual worlds of each artist.
This exhibition aims to convey the feeling that art naturally exists within our daily life rather than viewed in a specific space.
A new way to enjoy art, born from the furniture, space and the artworks resonating with one another. We hope that by not only just viewing the art but also immersing yourself within the space itself and experiencing it as a part of your daily life, you can enjoy your encounter with the artworks.
Just what kind of new possibilities will be born when we integrate art into our daily lives?
We warmly invite you to experience LIVING IN ART in person, and to discover the world envisioned by 引三川 IHC and gallery UG.
We look forward to welcoming you to the exhibition.
Exhibition Details:
引三川 IHC (IN HOUSE COLLECTION) × gallery UG "LIVING IN ART｜JAPANESE CONTEMPORARY ART"
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, October 3rd, 2026 to Monday, November 2nd, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, October 3rd, 2026 from 15:00 to 18:00 (3pm to 6pm)
Venue: 引三川 IHC (IN HOUSE COLLECTION)
Address: No. 10, Lane 291, Section 1, Jianguo South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
gallery UG is pleased to present “Ah, My Beloved Beastizens,” a special feature exhibition by Junko ASANO, taking place on the 30th floor of Park Hotel Tokyo from Friday, August 28 to Thursday, October 29, 2026.
Junko ASANO’s works depict fantastical scenes inspired by the seemingly ordinary moments of everyday life, portraying animals joyfully coexisting and evoking a warm sense of nostalgia.
Through her art, Asano cherishes the imagination that is gradually being lost in today’s world, as well as the importance of taking time to slow down.
She invites viewers to freely imagine the stories that unfold beyond what is depicted in each work.
Drawing inspiration from Japan’s long-standing tradition of anthropomorphizing animals, the exhibition presents a nostalgic and playful world where animals come together in their own delightful realm.
Amid the serene and tranquil atmosphere of Park Hotel Tokyo, we invite you to take your time and enjoy an encounter with art that gently fills the heart with warmth and tranquility.
*Please note that the displayed works may be changed during the exhibition period without prior notice.
"Connecting artworks to people, connecting people to each other through art."
galleryUG are always there for our artists.
We will grow together with the artists and support them from production to promotion.
We aim to further enrich and expand the contemporary art scene by proposing the ideal way for galleries to be.
I express visions inspired by ordinary daily life, where animals happily coexist and warm feelings of nostalgia prevail. I hope viewers will cherish their imagination, which is often overlooked in today's fast-paced world, and the time they spend relaxing. Through my work, I encourage them to freely imagine the stories that lie beyond the artwork.
In moments when I feel like I’m in a place independent of my surroundings,
I sometimes feel like I’m in a different time and space.
The feeling is like clouds or smoke that change shape with no regard for time
that people have to live by, and it also feels like a space of my own.
To turn, various scenes that came up in my imagination from things I encountered.
To express freedom, time and desires that are on the verge of being discarded from memory.
That is what is important, in order for me to be me and for a person to be them self.
2F TERRADA ART COMPLEX Ⅱ, 1-32-8, Higashishinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
8 minutes walk from Tennozu Isle Station on the Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai Line(Exit B)
11 minutes walk from Tokyo Monorail Haneda Airport Line Tennozu Isle Station(Central Exit)
Hours and holidays follow those of Fukuoka Tenjin.
TEL : +81-92-712-8181(代) FAX : -
Studio MOKU
This is a production studio dedicated to gallery UG’s represented artists, established in 2020. It was founded to support and engage with artists from a long-term perspective.
