gallery UG Tennoz is pleased to present a new solo exhibition by UG-exclusive artist Keitoku TOIZUMI, titled “WONDERLAND – The Light, Shadow and Subtle Lies,” on view from Friday, February 6 through Saturday, February 28, 2026.
Based on the perspectives and techniques developed through his previous works, TOIZUMI presents a refined exploration of light and shadow in this exhibition. Embedded within these spaces are subtle lies that challenge conventional perception.
Keitoku TOIZUMI has been working exclusively with gallery UG since 2020. Through a wide range of presentations, including solo exhibitions, art fairs, and group exhibitions, he has continued to develop a distinct visual language grounded in his unique worldview.
In 2025, gallery UG presented a solo exhibition by Keitoku TOIZUMI at ART FAIR TOKYO; in the same year, TOIZUMI also participated in a group exhibition in New Mexico, USA, marking a further expansion of his practice both domestically and internationally.
The new works in this exhibition are constructed on a foundation of realism, with compositions and color schemes precisely structured. By introducing a skillful sense of unfamiliarity, TOIZUMI creates a world that quietly and deeply engages the viewer's inner consciousness.
Visitors are invited to experience the “new wonderland” created by TOIZUMI.
gallery UG
Have you ever played a “spot-the-difference” game?
Two images are placed side by side, and you’re asked to find five differences within a time limit.
Often, it’s the last difference that’s the hardest to find. You scan every corner of the image, but time runs out. Then comes the answer reveal:
“Oh—it was just a slight difference in width here.”
Have you ever had that moment where you think, “I’m sure my eyes looked right at that spot… so why didn’t I notice?”
Preconceptions and fixed ideas get in the way—we see, yet we don’t truly see.
That’s simply how human vision works.
My work begins with photographing the subject.
While shooting, I decide on composition, consider color placement, and imagine narratives. In a sense, the photography itself is like drawing. From those photographs, I then create paintings.
You might think, “Then why not just show the photograph?”
The answer lies in the act of painting—I introduce subtle lies.
Sometimes the lie is extremely subtle; at other times, it is bold and unmistakable.
As a result, the finished painting may look almost identical to the original photograph at first glance. But upon closer inspection, it becomes something entirely different.
These subtle lies form the most essential core of my work.
You can glance at it and think, “Just another photorealistic painting,” and move on.
Or, the moment you notice the lie—welcome to Wonderland.
Keitoku TOIZUMI
