In memory of the artist Satoshi Watanabe, who passed away on February 10, TARO NASU will hold a special memorial exhibition from June 13 through June 27.

With the generous cooperation of his family, the exhibition will present works that Watanabe kept by his side until the very end of his life, alongside archival materials including exhibition reviews and catalogues from throughout his career.

Through his singular use of dots, Watanabe continuously challenged the illusion surrounding the aura of painting. This exhibition traces the trajectory of an artist who persistently explored, from his own unique perspective, the notions of originality and uniqueness in painting, as well as the mutually dependent—almost complicit—figure-ground relations. Grounded in these concerns, his practice sought to dismantle the image itself.

Since his solo exhibition at TARO NASU in 1999, the gallery has presented three solo exhibitions with Watanabe in addition to numerous group exhibitions. In recent years, declining health had forced him to suspend his artistic activities, and it is with profound sorrow that we find this exhibition has become his final project.

On the opening day, June 13, we invite guests to join us in raising a can of beer in memory of Watanabe, whose love of beer was known to all who knew him.