Once Upon a Time

Little Red Riding Hood (赤ずきん), 2025, Wood, fabric, and artificial fur, H103 × W25 × D22 cm. Courtesy of the Artist and AISHO Tokyo.

 

AISHO Tokyo is honoured to announce the debut exhibition “Once Upon a Time” by Japanese artist Mizuki Nakazawa, on view from February 21 (Friday) to March 22 (Saturday). This exhibition marks Nakazawa’s inaugural presentation at our gallery. Additionally, a selection of works from the same collection will be showcased at Art Fair Tokyo, taking place at the Tokyo International Forum from March 6 to March 9.

Mizuki Nakazawa, born in 1995 in Kanagawa Prefecture. After completing her doctoral studies in sculpture at the Tokyo University of the Arts in 2024, the artist is now based in Saitama. She has been focused on wood sculptures that explore the form of human. While wood serves as her primary medium, she adeptly incorporates materials closely associated with the body, such as artificial fur and fabric, thereby developing a distinctive artistic expression. In her recent works, she employs a cubist methodology that deconstructs and reconstructs two-dimensional narratives from multiple perspectives, visualizing the inherent uncertainties of global fairy tales, myths, and religious stories alongside the ambiguities of her abstract thoughts and emotions.

This exhibition, entitled “Once Upon a Time”, focuses on characters and elements from fairy tales, presenting sculptural works that intertwine these motifs with representations of the human body. The universal fairy tale phrase “Once upon a time” transcends a specific temporal and spatial constraints, allowing the narrative to happen in a unique time and space. Nakazawa expresses a keen interest in this brand new dimensions that arise from the interplay between these narration and her sculptural practice.

While Nakazawa’s works may reflect the contemporary social structure — characterized by the fragmentary reconstruction of diverse narratives — they also encapsulate a rich and intricate human allure, expressed with both precision and rawness.

Opening reception will be held on February 21 (Friday), from 5 to 7 PM, offering an opportunity for attendees to engage with the artist. We cordially invite all to join us!

 

INSTALLATION VIEW “Once Upon a Time“, 2025. Courtesy of the Artist and AISHO Tokyo.

 

INSTALLATION VIEW “Once Upon a Time“, 2025. Courtesy of the Artist and AISHO Tokyo.

 

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