AMANO Yoshitaka:
Moonlight

KOCHI 東風 is pleased to present “Moonlight,” an exhibition by AMANO Yoshitaka.

In recent years, through his ties with Japanese shrines and temples, Amano has engaged with the world of gods, buddhas, and faith. His projects include the ceiling painting Phoenixes at Musashino Reiwa Shrine; Saddharma Pundarika Sutra at Kominato Tanjoji Temple, a head temple of the Nichiren school; the work Kin’iro Zushi, presented at Myoshinji Temple, a head temple of the Rinzai school; and INARI, fusuma sliding-door paintings dedicated to Fushimi Inari Taisha.

In the summer of 2026, for his solo exhibition “Matrix of Myth” at Mizuma Art Gallery, he turned his gaze toward Japanese mythology and portrayed deities including Amaterasu, Susanoo, and Tsukuyomi through his fantastical vision.

For “Moonlight,” works embodying the light and presence of the moon have been selected from the world of “Matrix of Myth,” centered on Tsukuyomi, and newly arranged within KOCHI’s space in Gion, Kyoto.

The Japanese word tsukikage has long been used to describe moonlight shining into the darkness. The natural light and moonlight entering the KOCHI 東風 space quietly overlap with the light and shadow of the mythology depicted by Amano.

Alongside Tsukuyomi, the central work in the exhibition, are OBORO, depicting a dragon ascending to the heavens in pale moonlight; Divine Portrait and Goddess of UKEI, in which AMANO Yoshitaka portrays the visages of deities in his distinctive style; and Silver Moon, suffused with tranquil moonlight. Rather than appearing before us with clearly defined outlines, these presences seem to emerge from the threshold between light and darkness, awakening something that lies deep within memory.

The gods Amano depicts are figures from myths of the distant past, yet they also quietly touch the precious emotions and memories held within those of us living today.

As moonlight gently reveals what could not be seen, we invite you to encounter the world of the moon and mythology, light and shadow, depicted by AMANO Yoshitaka.