424 Broadway, #601, New York, NY 10013

Tuesday–Saturday, noon–6 pm, and by appointment.

Ulterior Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition Mix and Match, which features the work of artist Takashi Kunitani. This is Kunitani's third solo exhibition with the gallery, and it opens on October 27 with a reception for the artist from 6 to 8 pm. The artist is showcasing a new series of works that he refers to as "objects." These works lie somewhere between traditional paintings and sculptures. He incorporates elements that include found object and handmade stained glass in a framed structure, aiming to play viewer’s perception and the visual effects the object projects.

In recent years, Kunitani has been focusing on aspects of composition and amalgamation. Whether by juxtaposing one-dimensional elements within a two-dimensional space or by fusing disparate objects to create new connections, there is a profound revelation to be found. Kunitani often finds inspiration from the interplay of colors, objects, or words and the fusion of diverse elements like magazine collages and seemingly insignificant found objects. In the new works, he brings together temporal and spatial dimensions in a unified entity, a singular object. In one of the objects shown, the word "corona" loses its conventional linguistic function under the colored stained glass, and becomes an integral part of the visual composition as a formal element. The term "composition" pertains to various artistic realms, including painting, music, and architecture. In essence it refers to the mixing or fusing of various elements into freshly reconsidered arrangements of specific proportion or forms. Hence, the exhibition's title, Mix and Match, aptly encapsulates Kunitani’s creative endeavor, exploring the confusion and versatility of the word and how it simultaneously connects and disconnects with its surroundings.

In recent years, Kunitani has been focusing on aspects of composition and amalgamation. Whether by juxtaposing one-dimensional elements within a two-dimensional space or by fusing disparate objects to create new connections, there is a profound revelation to be found. Kunitani often finds inspiration from the interplay of colors, objects, or words and the fusion of diverse elements like magazine collages and seemingly insignificant found objects. In the new works, he brings together temporal and spatial dimensions in a unified entity, a singular object. In one of the objects shown, the word "corona" loses its conventional linguistic function under the colored stained glass, and becomes an integral part of the visual composition as a formal element. The term "composition" pertains to various artistic realms, including painting, music, and architecture. In essence it refers to the mixing or fusing of various elements into freshly reconsidered arrangements of specific proportion or forms. Hence, the exhibition's title, Mix and Match, aptly encapsulates Kunitani’s creative endeavor, exploring the confusion and versatility of the word and how it simultaneously connects and disconnects with its surroundings.

In addition, Kunitani will display his signature wall-hung neon sculptures. He has created four neon sculptures, each shaped as the symbols for different currencies (¥, €, $, and £), laid flat on a glass shelf. At first glance, these neon letters appear as abstract sculptures—until the viewer sees them from below. Kunitani describes them as "objects that are deprived of their meanings."

Takashi Kunitani was born in Kyoto Japan in 1974 and graduated from Seian University of Art and Design in Shiga Prefecture, Japan in 1997. Kunitani’s works have been the subject of numerous solo and group exhibitions including: Biwako Biennial 2022, Shiga, Japan (2022); The Practice of Everyday Practice, Art & Design Center at Nagoya University of The Arts, Nagoya, Japan (2021); Moji Moji Kotonoha, Borderless Art Museum, Shiga, Japan (2021); Medium of Exchange, Shirley Fiterman Art Center at BMCC, New York, NY (2019); Spacelss Space, Ulterior Gallery, New York, NY (solo, 2018); Something Red, Kyoto Art Center, Kyoto, Japan (solo, 2018); Takashi Kunitani: Deep Projection, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Hyogo, Japan (solo, 2015); Two Passages, Nuit Blanche Kyoto 2012, Kyoto Art Center, Kyoto, Japan (2012); Today’s Artist 48: Takashi Kunitani—The Vertical Horizon, Osaka Contemporary Art Center, Osaka, Japan (solo, 2007); and Criterium 54: Takashi Kunitani, Art Tower Mito, Ibaraki, Japan (solo, 2003). One of his neon sculptures is currently on view in New Acquisitions, 2023 Collection II: Welcome at Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Japan. He lives and works in Kyoto, Japan.