TEZUKAYAMA GALLERY is pleased to present “omni prism” a solo exhibition by Tokyo-based artist Daisuke Takakura.

Born in Tokyo in 1980, Takakura entered the theater world as an actor during his studies at Rikkyo University. Since then, he has explored a variety of expressive forms while self-teaching photography and design. Today, he creates photographic works rooted in his theatrical background, combining his technical skills with everyday experiences.

This exhibition features monodramatic, one of Takakura’s signature series, alongside tunica—a newly developed and experimental series that explores the use of 3D scanning technology.

In monodramatic, Takakura interviews his subjects, drawing out themes such as communication with the self, the choices and potential within individuals, and personal narratives. He constructs images based on the dialogues, orchestrating each scene through direction akin to theater. Meanwhile, tunica treats the act of 3D scanning as a photographic process. Using a 3D scanner as a camera, Takakura captures 3D models of his subjects and combines them with photographs taken using conventional cameras, creating new forms of portraiture. In the gallery space, Takakura directs the mise-en-scène, carefully arranging the positioning of each work within the space.

This spatial configuration evokes the surveillance-oriented dynamic of viewing and being viewed in the age of social media while referencing the circular structure of a theatrical arena. Both monodramatic and tunica imagine anonymous casts within social structures. The works are displayed away from the walls to enhance the presence and reality of the subjects, inviting viewers to become part of the scene and experience an immersive sense of theatrical participation.

This marks Takakura’s first solo exhibition at a gallery in approximately six years. We warmly invite you to view his latest work.

[Artist Statement]

The rapid changes that the world has undergone in recent years, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, have felt more profound than anything I have experienced before.
Anxieties and absurdities that had long been hidden within society have surfaced and have clearly affected our everyday lives.
Personal experiences such as my parents’ aging, the time limit on having children, and changes in my own body and mind have further intensified these feelings.

Smartphones and social media, which have become part of daily life, have dramatically improved convenience. The technology we now hold in our hands continues to evolve at an accelerating pace. It easily produces digital “doppelgängers,” or virtual selves, and today, I find myself consulting with an entity that resembles a form of intelligence generated by big data.
This experience sometimes creates a sense of suffocation, as though I am being watched from all directions, and also brings a sense of unease, as the boundary between reality and fiction becomes increasingly blurred.
At times, I feel a creeping fear of being slowly consumed by digital systems and structures. Nevertheless, I cannot look away. There is something captivating—something still unknown—within that distortion that draws me in. It may contain new creative possibilities or be the entrance to stories yet to be discovered.

Over the course of my artistic practice, the lives of the people I have photographed have also undergone various changes. Some have succeeded in their acting careers, while others have stepped away from the spotlight.
Some have built families and welcomed new life. Each of these lives is precious, and these transformations are a major source of motivation for my work.

One person’s happiness does not always translate into happiness for another.
I have come to witness distant stories that I would not have known before, as well as quiet voices that speak their truths. We often take in only small amounts of information—barely enough to be considered fragments—and yet we believe we understand. Even so, we find ourselves overwhelmed by the vast amount and speed of information, often losing our footing.

We live surrounded by a society that contains both light and shadow, reality and illusion, all mixed together. Even when I feel paralyzed, I want to keep my eyes open and accept what I see. I try to collect even just a few of the countless rays of light coming from every direction, bring them into focus, and draw an outline.
Each of these beams of light is a story. I want to believe that by creating something, I too can become a faint light in someone else’s life.

I hope that the outlines I draw will intersect with the stories of those who view my work, and through that encounter, give rise to a new image. This is my attempt.