Kuramae’s “Mizusai”
On March 15, 2019, a new gallery called “Mizusai” opened in Kuramae.
Haiiro Ookami + Florist Nishibeppu Shoten “Meimei Hyakusou”
The opening exhibition at “Mizusai” is a show by “Haiiro Ookami + Florist Nishibeppu Shoten.” We visited two days after the opening.
“Haiiro Ookami” deals in antique tools, while “Florist Nishibeppu Shoten” handles plants. Both are run by men in their thirties, so their collaboration might best be described as the activity of a two-person unit.
Haiiro Ookami + Florist Nishibeppu Shoten — Profiles
Katsuya Sato
Owner of the antique tool shop Haiiro Ookami.
The shop’s name comes from the Russian folktale “Prince Ivan and the Gray Wolf.”
In addition to sourcing antique tools rooted in everyday life in Russia and Japan, he also designs houses and interiors.Hisayuki Nishibeppu
Owner of Florist Nishibeppu Shoten.
He began sharing a space with Sato through an exhibition at “Haiiro Ookami.”
Using tree roots, mushrooms, weathered wood, and other natural materials, he expresses a distinctive worldview, and also works on flower arrangements and spatial displays.
The gallery “Mizusai” has a very spacious interior, divided into an exhibition corner and a permanent-sales corner.
The works on view in the exhibition corner centered on plants glowing softly within old three-dimensional frames illuminated from inside, casting a faint light within the dimly lit gallery.
These illuminated works bring Takeshi Uchibayashi to mind.
Plants are enclosed within, and the retro frames of old wood help lend a soft glow to the pieces.
Plant works so distinctly of Florist Nishibeppu Shoten — beautiful and lovely.
Permanent Corner
The permanent corner features a lineup that reflects “Mizusai’s” ceramic-focused character.
We were captivated by the works of Mikako Kawai.
Kuramae has been seeing more and more stylish shops open, and this gallery gives the impression of blending naturally into the neighborhood’s trends from the start.
Rather than aligning itself with the context of contemporary art, it feels as if the gallery drew its blueprint from the atmosphere of the neighborhood itself.
The exhibition schedule for the rest of the year is already largely planned, and one senses an eager commitment to running solo shows energetically.
We will keep watching over, and cheering on, this gallery run by two women, with great expectations for its future.
