HITOMI ENDO, KISHO KAKUTANI

Whitestone Ginza New Gallery is pleased to announce the duo exhibition Imprinting by Kisho Kakutani and Hitomi Endo. Kakutani (b.1993) and Endo (b.1990) are two artists who have a strong presence on Japan’s contemporary art scene. Following favorable reviews for their exhibitions at Whitestone Ginza New Gallery last year – both featured in Art Collectors/Sold out Artists 2025– this marks their first time exhibiting together. KAKUTANI draws inspiration from fragments of everyday life captured on his smartphone, intentionally applying a hazy filter to each image, he stimulates the viewer’s imagination and reveals the hidden depths of reality. In addition to his previous series “Curtain” and “Frosted Windows”, Kakutani introduces a new body of work this year titled “Fog”. Through his work, he poses the question: Do we tend to impose convenient interpretations on the scenes that come casually in our views? His works seek to illuminate existence as it is – before human thought intervenes. ENDO draws on landscapes seen in her dreams, depicting the intersections of reality and unreality with nuanced colors and precise outlines. Rooted in landscape painting, her style invites viewers into another realm, where light and thought intersect across multiple layers of perception, evoking a sense of déjà vu. Her recent works have further increased the noise-like elements and dynamic qualities, implying an overlapping of multiple space-times. Both artists explore the elusive nature of reality and its profound depths, while also highlighting the richness that the unconscious mind contributes to human experience. The word imprint implies both a “mark” and a “trace”. If our visual impressions and memories are imprinted on us day by day, even only as a vestige, then, human life can be seen as an accumulation of these ephemeral moments. The exhibition title, Imprint-ing suggests that the countless realities filtered through our perceptions continue to be embedded into our experience as long as we live. Through this exhibition, their works will expand the boundaries of what we call “real,” absorbing the gaze of every viewer. We invite you to experience the diverse realities explored by these two talented artists, during this brief moment between the rainy season and the height of summer.