Art Gallery Project: Eri Uemura Solo Exhibition “Picking up My Bones”

The exhibition by artist Eri Uemura, who explores themes of wildness, the body, and the dimensions of time and space to convey emotions and impulses that fluctuate within these boundaries, will be held from Friday, January 24 to Friday, February 7, 2025, at GARDE Gallery in Omotesando, Tokyo.

During the exhibition, artworks will be available for purchase on-site. We warmly invite you to stop by and experience her compelling creations firsthand.

Uemura’s “Picking up My Bones” series, ongoing since 2016, skillfully portrays the fundamental wildness and desires emerging from the raw essence of our bodies as “living beings.” The figure depicted selecting what is needed from scattered remains after decay evokes both the fragility of the living body and a readiness for what lies beyond.

The series also delves into the tension between the “wildness” innate in all living beings and the “education” that defines how humans ought to behave—shaped by shifting times and cultures. This conflict sometimes drives an urge to escape into an unrealistic realm, such as the unconscious or the surreal. Uemura crafts an imaginative story world where impulses are laid bare amidst fantastical landscapes.

The contrast between the young, innocent girl and the skeleton evokes medieval European aphorisms such as “Memento Mori” (Remember Death) and “Carpe Diem” (Seize the Day). Throughout art history, countless attempts have been made to depict life and death, and this endeavor remains profoundly relevant in the modern era. Uemura’s work captures and expresses the shifting collective psyche while offering a deeply personal interpretation of mortality.

In modern society, advancements in science and medicine have led to a cultural aversion to death, often relegating it to the margins of public consciousness. However, by boldly bringing it into focus, Uemura compels us to confront the light of life with greater intensity. This vivid juxtaposition encourages us, as contemporary individuals, to reflect on the paradox of “picking up one’s own bones.”

The interplay between the vibrantly rendered girl and the stark skeleton creates a distinctive aesthetic, weaving a rich tapestry that speaks to the transience of life and the essence of human existence. Through this contrast, Uemura’s work invites us to ponder the fragility and beauty of living.

The materiality of this exhibition is also a highlight. The wide range of materials, such as Japanese paper, pressed flowers, fire, wool, ink, and mineral pigments, give a stronger sense of analog physicality and give viewers a fresh impression with their reality. In addition to drawings from the early part of the series, the exhibition will feature his latest paintings as well as three-dimensional ceramic works, which he began working on in 2024, for the first time.

In an age where advances in science and medicine marginalize death, Uemura’s works vividly bring it to the forefront, compelling us to reflect on the inherent contradictions of modern life. The colorful interplay between the girl and the skeleton creates a unique aesthetic that highlights the ephemerality of life and the essence of human existence.

ERI UEMURA

Biography
1986 Born in Hiroshima Prefecture
2010 Graduated from Onomichi City University, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Oil Painting
2010-11 Moved to the UK and stayed in London
2014 Completed Master’s course in Oil Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Fine Arts

Major Exhibitions
2012

• Group Exhibition “University Painting”, Akibatamabi 21, 3331gallery, Tokyo
• Group Exhibition “Eri Uemura, Megumi Utsunomiya, Makiko Masutani’s Atelier”, Tokyo University of the Arts, University Hall, Tokyo

2013

• Solo Exhibition “Life Drawing”, Ouchi Gallery, NY

2014

• Participated in “Art Award Tokyo Marunouchi 2014”, Gyokochika Gallery, Tokyo
• Solo Exhibition “Kiss”, JIKKA, Tokyo
• Group Exhibition “Mitsukoshi x Tokyo University of the Arts Summer Art Festival 2014: Young Artists’ Exhibition: Leading the Next Generation”, Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store, Tokyo
• “Shibukal Festival 2014”, Parco Museum, Shibuya PARCO, Tokyo
• “TOKYO DESIGNERS WEEK ・ SHOP ART WALK”, Pretty Ballerinas AOYAMA, Tokyo

2015

• Solo Exhibition “ERI UEMURA”, eatable, Tokyo
• Group Exhibition “In Focus 6: Current Status of Graduates”, MOU Onomichi City University Museum of Art, Hiroshima

2018

• Participation in zine fair, Wetland venue, Taipei

2023

• Group Exhibition “ART KAMIYAMA”, Aso Residence, Tokyo

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/eri_uemura

Eri Uemura Solo Exhibition “Picking up My Bones”

Dates：January 24 (Fri.) – February 7 (Fri.), 2025 *Closed on Sundays and holidays
Hours：11:00-18:00
Venue：GARDE Gallery (NBF ALLIANCE Bldg. 4F, 5-2-1 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Admission：free
URL：https://www.art-adf.jp/?sl=en