Whitestone Gallery Hong Kong is pleased to present “Intersection”, an exhibition that brings together significant works of two new generation Japanese artists, Kisho Kakutani (b.1993) and Kosuke Harasawa (b.1997). Walking like city flâneurs, Kakutani and Harasawa explore themes of urban and natural life through a lens of nostalgia and change. Their works reflect the profound impact of urban development, capturing the rhythm of day and night and their interplay with personal stories.

Kisho Kakutani conveys his observations in a bright, humid morning. His meticulously detailed depictions of beaches, cityscapes, trees, and parks are enveloped in a frosted aesthetic that evokes fleeting time and fading memories. Kisho views his artwork as “a tool that allows people to imagine.” Through his vaporous and soothing color palettes, viewers are invited to experience a blend of nostalgia and unfamiliarity, awakening long-forgotten emotions while reflecting on the beauty of daily life.

Kosuke Harasawa focuses on the city at night, transforming its rain-soaked streets into surreal theaters where ghostly white passersby, often clutching transparent umbrellas, take center stage. His works exude an air of mystery, drawing inspiration from the cityscape of Hong Kong. Against a starry and dreamy blue sky, Kosuke’s vibrant depictions elevate the urban landscape to a stage where transient figures come alive.

Both artists capture the solitude and serenity of contemporary urban life through their delicate painting styles. Their works bridge vivid observations of reality with memories and the passage of time, leaving viewers with a lasting impression.

About Kisho Kakutani

Born in Kobe in 1993, Kisho Kakutani completed the doctoral course in Japanese Painting at the graduate school of the Tokyo University of the Arts in 2022 (Ph.D. in Fine Arts). His tranquil paintings capture fleeting moments of everyday life while subtly reflecting the inner transformations of contemporary Japanese society. In 2020, he received the 46th Sogakai Spring Exhibition Award.

About Kosuke Harasawa

Born in Tokyo in 1997. Enrolled in the Department of Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts, majoring in Japanese painting, in 2018. While still a student, he distinguished himself by receiving the Shinseido Prize at the KENZAN Exhibition (2019), the Ataka Prize (2020), and the Excellence Award at the Bi-no-sha Student Selection Exhibition (2021), to name a few. By his third year, he had already held his first solo exhibition. In 2022, he entered the Graduate School of Fine Arts at Tokyo University of the Arts, majoring in Japanese painting (recipient of the Kamiyama Foundation Art Support Program Scholarship). He went on to win multiple awards in succession, including the Tokyo Geidai Art Renaissance Award 2022, the Taito City Mayor’s Prize, the Salon de Printemps Prize, and the runner-up prize at Monthly Art Magazine Gekkan Bijutsu 'Debut 2023’. In 2024, he received the Minister of Justice Prize at the prestigious Yuga-no-kai exhibition, founded with the support of the late Ikuo Hirayama, and his graduation work was acquired by Teikyo University. Currently, he is enrolled in the second year of the Doctoral Program in Fine Arts at Tokyo University of the Arts.