Depth and Surface

“Painting and photography are generally regarded as similar but separate forms of expression. However, if we look again at the relationship between the history of painting since the establishment of linear perspective in the 15th century and the establishment of photography (pinhole camera and camera obscura), and focus on the formal characteristics that painting and photography share, such as “depth and surface at the same time,” it could be said that they are identical twins with the same origins and genes (structure). This exhibition is an attempt to see if it is possible to create abstract paintings with photographs by keeping this point in mind.
All the works in this exhibition were shot with a single digital camera.”

Shunji Murai

Hino gallery is pleased to present a solo exhibition entitled “Depth and Surface” by Shunji Murai from Monday, September 5th, 2022.

Murai has consistently worked on the theme of “painting” itself, rather than what to paint. In the 1990s, he attracted attention with his series of works in which unexpected shapes and colors are created by wiping off layers of the three primary colors. In the 2000s, he focused on the act of additive drawing as opposed to erasing, and developed a series of works analyzing and reconstructing the scribblings of infants.

From 2008 to the present, Murai has returned to tableau painting and has been working on abstract paintings with photographs, based on the hypothesis that perspective and the process of establishing the camera are two sides of the same coin. Murai’s creative process involves driving to a nearby city almost every day to take photographs with a digital camera, and upon returning home, he selects one from the photos he has taken and posts it on Instagram (@uzumaki1878). The act of taking a picture serves as a sketch, the photos posted on Instagram serve as a sketchbook, and by reviewing and selecting photos from the vast archive accumulated in this way, the concept is solidified. The output photographs are smooth and naturally have no material thickness, and the subjects are ordinary scenes that might otherwise be overlooked, such as a sandbox sheet or a wall in a scrap yard, but when they are cut out through the eyes of the painter, they make us wonder what exactly is a photograph and what is a painting, and make us aware and confused about the phenomena of the world.

This is Murai’s first solo exhibition at Hino gallery in eight and a half years. Please come and see his new series of paintings.

Shunji MURAI Website


*To prevent the spread of COVID-19, no opening reception will be held. Please wear a mask when you come to the gallery. Also, please note that our regular opening hours have changed to 11am to 6pm. The period of the exhibition and opening hours may change according to future circumstances. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.