Contributing Artists

Nanako Kono

Exhibition Statement as Preserved in the INCUBATOR Archives:

Sentimental Representation explores the emotional depth embedded in the hand gestures, tools, and the flatness of the surfaces of painting. The exhibition focuses on how speech is treated differently according to the emotion, directionality, and weight of each soul’s sentimental response towards specific objects. Nanko uses materials like paint and collage into expressions of memory and emotion. The flatness of plexiglass and acrylic paitn as a medium adds a unque layer, where its reflective surface creates an illusion of depth, challenging the viewer to reconsider the distance between the outer surface and inner sentiment. The collages and plexiglass paintings engage with the tactile nature of the materials, aiming to invite viewers to witness the layered process of creation. Sentimental Representation seeks a way to remind that even in a flat, painful surface, deep, complex emotions can be conveyed.