At GALLERY TARGET, an art gallery in Jingumae, Shibuya Ward, a solo exhibition by artist Koichiro Takagi, titled 'Is this my God?', is being held. The theme of this exhibition is 'money.' Takagi expresses the duality lurking behind things through his unique worldview and techniques.

Koichiro Takagi (born 1974) anthropomorphizes animals, creating unique works through embroidery and collage. He has two roots: growing up in a Catholic household, where he was naturally exposed to religious paintings adorning churches, priestly vestments, and embroidered decorations; and later, living in San Francisco, where he was heavily influenced by subcultures such as punk rock, underground comics, and skateboarding. His unparalleled sensibility was nurtured between the 'faith' of worshipping a single God and the subcultures that emphasize 'anti-establishment' and 'individuality.'

This exhibition, 'Is This My God?', centers on the theme of money. 'Some worship money, others detest it; for some, it is like God, for others, like the devil,' says Takagi. What is God to each individual? What is value? In this era of confusion where everything feels uncertain, the artist gently poses these questions through 40 works (embroidery and mixed media).

Koichiro Takagi
Born in Tokyo in 1974. After graduating from university, he moved to the United States and studied silkscreen at the Art Academy of San Francisco. He then began his career as a painter in New York, returning to Japan in 2005 to establish his base in Tokyo. His works, featuring animals as motifs, possess an anonymity and mystique that evoke a strange sense of unease, a blend of familiarity and alienation. Takagi's art depicts the shifting emotions and inherent contradictions of people, while expressing the existence of an ideal world that, though unseen, we wish to believe in. As a guide to this utopia, the various intentions hidden in the expressions of his protagonists prompt the viewer to once again question, amidst fluctuating values, what constitutes truth for each individual. He is actively engaged as a painter, participating in domestic and international curated and group exhibitions, as well as holding solo shows. He has also provided designs and collaborated with apparel brands such as BEAMS, PORTER, and Paul Smith. His work has been featured in domestic and international media, including the NY Times.

Koichiro Takagi 'Is This My God?'
Dates: Until Saturday, December 18, 2021
Venue: GALLERY TARGET
Address: 2-32-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM (Closed Sundays and National Holidays)