The return of Cupid

A solo exhibition by French artist Nicolas Buffe, who combines stories with visual influences mainly from Western European classical cultures and Japanese popular culture, will be held. His wall drawings, paintings and sculptures will be displayed throughout the space before relocation of the gallery at the end of March 2025.

MEGUMI OGITA GALLERY is pleased to present Nicolas Buffe’s solo exhibition “The return of Cupid”. Buffe was born in Paris, France in 1978 and graduated from École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris. He then completed his PhD at Tokyo University of the Arts in 2014. Buffe creates a multifaceted and comprehensive world that mixes his academic knowledge and popular culture, from classical European literature to Japanese and American subculture. Influenced by Japanese popular culture in France in the 1980s and 1990s, Buffe developed his passion for anime, tokusatsu, manga and video games. Later, he created works with references to the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Baroque through his university studies. Buffe’s work has been exhibited at La Maison Rouge, Paris (2007), the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (2008), Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris (2010), a solo exhibition at the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo (2014), K11 Hong-Kong (2017-18), Musée de Cluny, Paris (2018-19) and art fairs in Europe and Asia. In addition to collaborations with fashion, luxury brands and manufactures such as Hermès, Comme des Garçons, Pierre Hermé, Sèvres, he was in charge of the visual design of two operas at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, in 2012 and 2015. In 2018, Buffe did a monumental installation inside GINZA SIX, Tokyo. He was awarded Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government in 2019.

This exhibition will feature Buffe’s murals, paintings and sculptures throughout the gallery space. Buffe’s murals are created with a decorative series of ancient and modern animals, plants and robots, based on the grotesque style, as seen in the Roman Emperor Nero’s palace in 64, and throughout the Renaissance. These site specific wall drawings are viewable until the gallery moves, giving the whole installation a feeling of impermanence. Based on the concept of “Serio Ludere” or playing seriously, which combines knowledge and familiarity, Buffe's works attract a wide range of fans. The current gallery space, which opened with Buffe’s solo exhibition in 2010, will close with this exhibition and be relocated at the end of March 2025. We hope you take this opportunity to visit.

Dates

February 21-March 15, 2025

Noon-6pm

Closed on Sunday and Monday

Opening Reception

February 21, 6-8pm

Artist will be in attendance.

MEGUMI OGITA GALLERY

B1 2-16-12 Ginza Chuo-ku Tokyo 104-0061 Japan

info@megumiogita.com