A Small Art Journey to the Summer Satoyama: Hiroki Nakamura Photography Exhibition in Tochigi

Work: kegon falls

Gallery HANNA -Kizuna-wa- (Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture) will host a photography exhibition titled 'Vestiges of the Unborn' by photographer Hiroki Nakamura from Saturday, July 25, 2026, to Sunday, August 16, 2026. This exhibition will not be held at the usual Gallery HANNA location but at a 150-year-old farmhouse situated within the pastoral landscape of Shimotsuga District, Tochigi Prefecture. Surrounded by the rich natural environment of the satoyama, Nakamura's photographic works will resonate with glass artworks by glass artist Kenta Senuma and ceramic pieces by potter Akira Miyazawa, collectively forming a unified landscape. More than just artworks, the building, garden, wind, light, and the sound of cicadas will all become part of the exhibition—an experiential showcase unique to a summer satoyama.

【Event Overview】

Hiroki Nakamura Exhibition: 'Vestiges of the Unborn'

Vestiges of the Unborn

Dates: July 25 (Sat) – August 16 (Sun), 2026

Hours: 11:00 – 17:00

Closed: Wednesdays Admission: Free

Venue: Shimotsuga District, Tochigi Prefecture (exact address provided after reservation)

Visitor Information – Reservation-Only, Limited Access

As the venue is a privately owned, non-public residence, access will be prioritized for those with reservations.

【Reservation Details】

- Capacity-limited by time slot

- Priority given to those with reservations

- Accepting reservations via email and online form

Reservation page: https://forms.gle/uycBU9QxYegpoi7N7

- After registration, the venue address will be provided.

Reservation Form

About the Exhibition – A Spatial Display Where Photography, Glass, and Ceramics Resonate

Photographer Hiroki Nakamura has long expressed the passage of time and the memories embedded in landscapes through his photography.

For this exhibition, themed 'Vestiges of the Unborn,' works will be displayed in a space where historic architecture and nature coexist. The venue, 'Uchitei,' is a farmhouse approximately 150 years old. The building itself, which has supported people's lives for generations, resonates with the artworks, creating a viewing experience distinct from conventional gallery spaces.

In addition to Nakamura's photographic works, the exhibition will also feature pieces by glass artist Kenta Senuma and ceramic artist Akira Miyazawa. The interplay of different materials—photography, glass, and ceramics—within a single space creates a layered exhibition where 'light,' 'time,' and 'materiality' converge, revealing new dimensions of each artwork.

Highlights

1｜Showcasing Representative Works by Photographer Hiroki Nakamura, Known for Capturing Dawn and Dusk

Photographer Hiroki Nakamura focuses his lens on fleeting moments such as dawn and dusk, capturing images only during these brief windows each day. Through long-exposure techniques, his works quietly reflect the passage of time and the accumulated memories of the land. This exhibition will present Nakamura's internationally acclaimed series—awarded numerous major global photography prizes—alongside new works, offering insight into his unique photographic expression.

Nori Forms 003 Nori Forms 004

2｜Spatial Exhibition by Artists from Three Fields: Photography, Glass, and Ceramics

In addition to Hiroki Nakamura's photographs, works by glass artist Kenta Senuma and ceramic artist Akira Miyazawa will be displayed. By combining different materials and artistic expressions, the exhibition transforms the entire space into a single artwork. While primarily a photography exhibition, the collaboration with craft artists offers a multidimensional viewing experience.

Hiroki Nakamura / Photography

Kenta Senuma / Glass

Akira Miyazawa / Ceramics

3｜Held at the 150-Year-Old Farmhouse 'Uchitei'

The venue is 'Uchitei,' a farmhouse approximately 150 years old, meticulously restored over many years by Mr. Masamitsu Saito, a bamboo craft researcher and collector. Unlike a standard white cube gallery, this is a lived-in domestic space. The integration of architecture, surrounding natural environment, and artworks creates a unique viewing experience possible only at this location.

4｜Limited Public Access to a Normally Private Historic House

Uchitei, the exhibition venue, is a privately owned historic farmhouse not usually open to the public. This space, carefully preserved as a gathering place for bamboo craft researchers and collectors from Japan and abroad, will be specially opened only during the exhibition period.

5｜An Exhibition That Invites a Small Journey into the Satoyama

Located in the satoyama of Shimotsuga District, Tochigi Prefecture, the venue is surrounded by expansive rural scenery and rich natural surroundings. Unlike urban galleries, this exhibition allows visitors to experience not only the artworks but also the architecture, landscape, and atmosphere of the region. It is approximately 40 minutes from central Utsunomiya and accessible as a day trip from the Greater Tokyo Area.

We hope visitors can experience Gallery HANNA's core philosophy of 'connecting works, people, and space' in this unique setting, different from our usual exhibition space in Utsunomiya.

Media Inquiry

Owner: Asuko Thomas

This exhibition is being held as a cultural initiative that utilizes historic architecture in rural areas, integrating photography, craft, and regional landscapes.

We would be honored if media could cover this event as a case study in utilizing historic buildings and artistic culture in satoyama regions facing depopulation and aging populations.

Owner: Asuko Thomas

Company: Gallery HANNA -Kizuna-wa-

Established in 2012, Gallery HANNA is based in a 90-year-old Japanese house in central Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture. It plans and hosts exhibitions and events related to craft, fine art, and daily life, serving as a space that connects makers and users, people and communities.

Gallery HANNA -Kizuna-wa-

2-7-17 Matsugaoka, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture

TEL/FAX 028-638-6123

HP: http://galleryhanna.com/

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