Video Work, a First for the Artist, Also on Display

Naoki Koide, who graduated from Tokyo Zokei University in 1992, has created works depicting himself and his family using materials such as synthetic resin, ceramic, and wood. His theme is "a family that will never disappear." The exhibition features not only his actual family but also deceased family members in altered forms, alongside otherworldly beings, all interacting within a free and expressive world.

At Tomio Koyama Gallery, Koide's family history has been meticulously reflected in his works, including "Two Bathrooms" in 2004, which centered on couples in intimate settings like bathrooms and bedrooms; "Marriage," a series of three-dimensional works depicting a couple in wedding attire, photographed at his own wedding; and "Maternity Leave" in 2010, which explored the theme of childbirth.

For “Read Me a Story, Daddy,” Koide presents three large-scale works, including a ceramic sculpture approximately 140 centimeters tall with a face resembling the artist himself, set against a motif of wood, to express a family life enriched by a child. Additionally, a video work, a new endeavor for Koide, is exhibited, featuring footage of his family at home with a voiceover of his family members reading a picture book.

Koide's works seem to extend from the innocent yet earnest play of childhood. Filled with poetic sentiment, they are autobiographical yet resonate with a universal narrative found in families everywhere, likely stirring nostalgic memories in viewers.