Aki Nakata - Sakura - Monochrome Spring
​​April 6 - April 19, 2026 at Gallery KOCHI, Kyoto

Wada Garou is pleased to present Sakura — Monochrome Spring, a solo exhibition by Aki Nakata at Gallery KOCHI in Kyoto.

Set within Kyoto—a city where layers of history and culture continue to accumulate—this exhibition reexamines the fundamental nature of sho (calligraphy). Focusing on the fleeting moment when ink meets paper, Nakata explores the tension and irreversibility of the act, seeking forms of expression that move beyond the literal meaning of words. Through variations in line density and the delicate presence of blurred or broken strokes, her work gives form to something more elusive and unspoken.

While grounded in traditional techniques, the works presented in this exhibition unfold as a series of minimal compositions that resonate quietly within a contemporary space.

We hope you will take a moment this spring to encounter these expressions as they emerge from stillness.

[Artist Statement]

Kyoto—a city where culture has been layered over a thousand years.
In this season, as cherry blossoms bloom and the wind falls still, I find myself returning once again to the essence of the act of sho.

The moment ink touches paper is filled with tension. It is an accumulation of the irretrievable “now.”
Beyond the meanings of words, I seek to contain within the density and fading of each line the invisible—emotion, breath, and presence.

In this exhibition, while honoring traditional techniques, I have attempted to create works that quietly inhabit a contemporary space.

I would be delighted if you could step away from the noise of daily life and spend a moment in a space where stillness and quiet dynamism intersect.

Aki Nakata graduated from Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts. She began practicing calligraphy at the age of five and obtained her certification as a calligraphy master (shihan) in 2015. She later established the Shoka Calligraphy School in Toyonaka, Osaka, where she teaches a wide range of students, including group lessons for young children and private lessons for children with disabilities.

In 2022, she began studying under Shoshu and formally launched her career as a calligraphy artist. In addition to commissioned works for organizations such as sumo patron associations and apparel brands, she has presented her work in exhibitions both in Japan and internationally.

Selected Exhibitions:
2022 — KOGEI Art Fair Kanazawa
2023 — HIBIYA OKUROJI ART FAIR
Solo Exhibition “own axis”, AMMON TOKYO
KOGEI Art Fair Kanazawa
2024 — Living with Art: Aki Nakata, Hankyu Umeda Main Store, 7F “comfort Q”
Solo Exhibition “Smile”, WADA GAROU TOKYO Lab.
KOGEI Art Fair Kanazawa
2024–2025 — Commissioned title and logo calligraphy for Toyonaka City Coming-of-Age Ceremony, Osaka
2025 — KOGEI Art Fair Kanazawa
2026 — Art Fair Nagoya

INSTAGRAM @aki_nakata​

INFORMATION
Aki Nakata - Sakura - Monochrome Spring
April 6 –  April 19, 2026

12pm - 6pm at Gallery KOCHI
Maruyama Park, 627 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto

Organized by Gallery KOCHI / Supported by Wada Garou

CONTACT
[email protected]