What lies beyond the void? In this solo exhibition, Keisuke Azuma explores the body, emotion, and
identity within a contemporary condition in which individuality is increasingly foregrounded. Rooted in
a Japanese sensitivity to space and perception, his work unfolds as a quiet dialogue between
presence and absence on the painted surface.
Azuma’s practice is guided by intuition. Layers of diluted paint are washed across the surface and
then partially withdrawn, revealing raw areas of canvas that resist definition. Within these shifting
contours, fragments of the body begin to appear — never fixed, never complete. These figures do not
assert themselves; they linger, inviting a slower, more introspective gaze. The artist describes it: “In
my practice, the air feels thin, almost difficult to hold. Although I use oil, my method doesn’t allow me
to work longer, bringing a tension which I cherish the most.”
The exhibition centers on the idea of interval, pause, and the space in between. Emptiness here is not
a void, but a generative force. It is within this suspended space that perception becomes active, and
the viewer is invited to complete what remains unresolved. In this sense, Azuma’s figures recall the
logic of transformation found in Metamorphoses (Ovide), where bodies are never stable but
continuously shifting between states, caught in the moment of becoming rather than in fixed form.
At the intersection of Japanese minimalism and European painterly traditions, Azuma’s work enters
into dialogue with art history. In his practice, he engages with the legacy of artists such as Rembrandt,
Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Édouard Manet, and Francisco Goya. This engagement is not based on
citation, but on a rethinking of composition, gesture, and the very nature of the painted image. Azuma
deconstructs traditional notions of figure and space, leaving behind only traces, suggestions, and
sensations.
Encountering his paintings evokes the feeling of a presence not yet fully unfolded, something on the
verge of becoming. In a world increasingly defined by visibility and individuation, his work offers a
counterpoint: a space where identity remains fluid, where emotion is sensed rather than declared, and
where the body is remembered rather than explicitly seen.
Keisuke Azuma (b. Osaka, Japan) is a Vilnius-based artist whose practice explores perception,
emotion, and the fluidity of identity. Working with oil on canvas, he develops an intuitive process of
layering and withdrawing paint, revealing raw surfaces where fragmented figures emerge and
dissolve. Informed by Japanese aesthetics and shaped by his experience in the UK, his work
investigates the space between presence and absence, inviting a contemplative and introspective
engagement.
Education
2024 — BA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London
Selected Exhibitions
2026 - Galleria Yusto/Giner, Madrid2026 - Kiaf SEOUL, Seoul
2024 — Unit 1 Gallery Workshop (Delphian Gallery), London
2024 — D Contemporary, London
2023 — Liliya Art Gallery, London
2023 — ARTSPACE HOSEO, Seoul
2022 — Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London
2022 — The Other Art Fair, London
Awards
2023 — New Futures Award
2025 — Longlisted, Jackson’s Art Prize
Collections
TDDT Collection
Exhibition Duration: April 9 – June 20, 2026
Artist: Keisuke Azuma
Text and curation: Alevtina Andreeva
