Reia Nakamura, a member of the popular junior group "KEY TO LIT (Kiteretsu)," will hold her first solo exhibition, "REIA NAKAMURA 1st EXHIBITION ReBELiUM @SHIBUYA," at LAIDOUT SHIBUYA (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo) from April 3rd. A press conference was held on the 2nd, where Nakamura spoke about the reasons for holding the exhibition and the works he wants visitors to pay attention to.
Nakamura, who says she "loved drawing since she was little thanks to her parents," has "taken lessons at a local art class and attended a university with an art department." Through showcasing her artwork on the variety show "Prebat!!" (MBS/TBS) and designing concert logos, she "realized that I really love making art my job. So I compiled my work into a file and presented it to people at my company, telling them several times that I wanted to have a solo exhibition, and they made it happen."
Among his seniors at STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, Satoshi Ohno of Arashi, Kento Senga of Kis-My-Ft2, and So So Matsushima of timelesz have all held solo exhibitions, but Nakamura is the first junior to hold one. He smiles and says he is "straightforwardly overjoyed" that his goal of holding a solo exhibition has come true.
"I'm incredibly relieved that the construction and various preparations for the solo exhibition were completed on time. My goal was not just to hold the exhibition itself, but to make it a great success, enjoyed by everyone involved, my fans who always support me, and everyone who comes to see it. I'm happy that we're steadily taking steps towards that goal, and I really want to make it a success," he said emphatically.
She said she had been creating artwork for several years, but she started taking concrete steps towards holding a solo exhibition around last spring. She began scouting venues and holding meetings.
"Holding a solo exhibition involves not only the artwork and the space, but also various things like merchandise, a website, media coverage, and so on. When it comes to art, I have a particularly strong commitment to it. Of course, I was prepared for it, but I wanted to be properly involved in every aspect, so I went ahead and did it."
The process of checking everything from the paper used for the merchandise to the material of the stickers was difficult, but she says, "I've put a lot of my personal touches into it, so my love for it has grown deeper, and I'm looking forward to everyone being able to pick it up and see it."
Chiga-san, who is a senior artist who has also held solo exhibitions, consulted with her about where to start when it was decided that she would hold an exhibition. "She told me, 'You should definitely create a character that is easy to understand.' Out of several options, she said, 'If you decide on a main character, it will help you a lot in the future.' In fact, 'Rebuild-kun' has been very active on my website and in various other places. I was helped by Chiga-san's advice."
When asked which works he would like people to pay particular attention to, he mentioned the piece that serves as the key visual for this solo exhibition and his largest piece. "The largest piece is painted on two 'F120' canvases placed side by side, so it's roughly 2 to just under 3 meters in size, and it's by far the largest piece I've ever painted in my life. I painted it using mixed media, and I have a lot of love and attachment to it," he explained. Furthermore, he showed confidence in his skateboard art, which is also a part of Nakamura's roots, saying, "Combined with the exhibition method, it's an exhibition that only I could do."
On the 2nd, she celebrated her 29th birthday. "It's finally my last year in my twenties. I was so preoccupied with my solo exhibition that I worked until the very last minute yesterday, and I celebrated my birthday with the taxi driver on the way home. When I told him, 'It's my birthday today,' he said, 'Congratulations!'" she revealed.
"We had a pre-opening on my birthday, and everyone came to visit. We were featured in a wonderful magazine and even put on the cover. I think it was the best start to my life so far. I want to make my last year in my twenties the most glamorous year, and I plan to take on many challenges," she said enthusiastically.
This exhibition is episode 0 of the "forbidden zone of imagination" that Nakamura has been building deep within himself since childhood. The venue will display more than 70 works in total. In addition to new works created specifically for this exhibition, there will be sketches of skateboards and snowboards that he has drawn over the years, canvas works that blend Japanese and cyberpunk styles, and an installation that recreates the world of "ReBELiUM." The exhibition is designed to be an experience that goes beyond simply "seeing," with an emphasis on "experiencing" the work.
