WORDS Gallery presents a new exhibition #04 “Plastic Coast” from March 16 (Sat) to March 24 (Sun), 2024. The gallery is known for its dedication to art and environmental issues, and the newest focus is to address the marine debris crisis in Tsushima Island in Japan. This exhibition will be held at Elephant STUDIO in Shibuya managed by WATOWA Gallery.

Continuing on from the previous exhibition on marine pollution #03 “Plastic Ocean”, this exhibition will focus on how plastic and fishing debris are exacerbating marine pollution, and how they are affecting on the island coast of Japan. The gallery partnered with Tsushima City in Nagasaki Prefecture, one of the most plastic contaminated islands, to provide the current situations that are often unreported and unnoticed. All the artists incorporated marine debris provided by the Tsushima government for this project.

Five artists participated in this exhibition are Keeenue, Hikaru Matsubara, Yufi Yamamoto, and Pimlico Arts Japan x Yusuke Hanai. They all have connections to the ocean in their personal lives, which led to their participation in this exhibition. A portion of the profits from the sales of the artworks will be donated to Tsushima City for the removal of marine debris.

【Date】

March 16 (Sat) – 24 (Sun), 2024
12:00~19:00
Admission free

Opening reception : March 16, 2024 (Sat) 17:00-19:00

【Place】

elephant STUDIO 2F
2-7-4 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Cooperated by WATOWA Gallery @watowagallery
Supported by Tsushima City, Nagasaki

【Artists (A to Z)】

Keeenue

Keeenue is widely known and highly acclaimed for her unique, bold, and colorful artwork that challenges the boundaries between figuration and abstraction. Keeenue’s projects with notable names such as Nike, Facebook, Shake Shack, and Sapporo Beer have further raised her profile.
https://www.instagram.com/keeenue_/

Hikaru Matsubara

Born in 1988. He uses graphical shapes, simple lines and adds a little bit of humor to create images. Previously provided his artworks for adidas, LACOSTE, POPEYE magazine, BEAMS and many others.
https://www.instagram.com/hikaru_matsubara/

Pimlico Arts Japan

Born in 1979 and currently based in Hayama, Japan. In 2015 he began creating artworks under the name Pimlico Arts Japan using plastic marine debris found on beaches strongly influenced by Yogan Lehl’s exhibition and artworks.
https://www.instagram.com/pimlicoartsjapan/

Yufi Yamamoto

Yufi Yamamoto is a multi-cultural artist who’s born in Tokyo, Japan. Her pop yet ennui art style comes from her love for the vintage and street surf culture she has been exposed during her 10 years of life in California.
https://www.instagram.com/yufiroofyart/

Yusuke Hanai

Born in 1978. Hanai’s style is strongly influenced by the counterculture of the 50s and 60s, forming a unique style that combines Japanese aesthetic sensibilities with American retro illustration. He has exhibited in the U.S., France, Australia, Brazil, Taiwan, and the U.K. To date, he has provided artwork for Vans, NIXON, BEAMS, and others expanding his activities both in Japan and abroad.
https://www.instagram.com/hanaiyusuke/