Galerie Geek Art presents Maitri at the 15th edition of the India Art Fair (IAF), a curated collection showcasing leading contemporary Japanese artists, including Takashi Murakami, Shun Sudo, Yusuke Asai, Tomiyuki Kaneko, and Kenji Yanobe. This exhibition explores the profound connections between nature, spirituality, and art, inspired by Rabindranath Tagore’s reflections on cultural harmony.Delving into the enduring concept of benevolence, Maitri weaves together traditional and contemporary artistic expressions from Japan. Each work reflects a dialogue between heritage and innovation, offering insights into how art bridges cultures while addressing universal themes.With the concept of Maitri, Galerie Geek Art reaffirms its commitment to fostering international artistic exchange and enriching the cultural landscape. This exhibition celebrates the transformative power of art to inspire connection, empathy, and understanding in an increasingly globalized world.

Kenji Yanobe
B.1965 in Osaka, and currently based in Kyoto, Japan

Kenji Yanobe is a contemporary artist known for exploring technology, society, and the human condition, often addressing nuclear energy and the aftermath of war. His art blends playful imagery with serious themes, incorporating elements of science fiction, manga, and pop culture to create surreal, thought-provoking pieces. Yanobe’s work, often featuring robotic or mechanized elements, reflects his anxieties about technology’s impact on the future. His iconic sculpture, Sun Child, a child in a radiation suit holding a glowing sun, symbolizes the legacy of nuclear energy. Another prominent theme in his recent works is the ‘Ship’s Cat,’ a figure representing hope for future space travelers. Inspired by the historical role of cats during the Age of Exploration, Yanobe has created various sculptures of this cat, which have been exhibited globally. Yanobe continues to use his art as a catalyst for social change and reflection on humanity’s challenges.

Tomiyuki Kaneko
B.1978 in Saitama, Japan, and currently based in Yamagata, Japan

Tomiyuki Kaneko is a distinctive voice in contemporary nihonga (Japanese painting). From childhood, he was fascinated by local deities, yokai (supernatural spirits), and invisible beings in nature, driving his desire to express the spiritual world through nihonga. His works are unique within the field, as he delves into themes rarely explored by other nihonga artists, including yokai, specters, demons, and deities, influenced by both Japanese folklore and Buddhist and Hindu theology. Living and working in Yamagata, Kaneko’s art captures these spiritual entities with bold compositions that reflect his ongoing exploration of the unseen world. Notable exhibitions include Fed-up Tiger (2021) and Raging Gods (2017) at Mizuma Art Gallery, Tokyo, as well as Forest of Poetic Sentiments: Narrated Space (2017) at KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre.

Shun Sudo
B. 1977 in Tokyo, Japan, and currently based in Tokyo & New York

Shun Sudo is a contemporary artist based in Tokyo, known for his diverse works in painting, sculpture, and drawing. Raised in Tokyo, Sudo was influenced by both traditional Japanese culture and the city’s evolving street culture. His art explores themes of connection, peace, and love, alongside the relationship between art and movement. After moving to the U.S. in his 20s, Sudo taught himself art techniques while traveling the world. Sudo’s practice blends elements from Japanese and American pop and street cultures—such as skateboarding, graffiti, manga, and anime—alongside traditional Japanese painting and Sumi-e (ink painting). This fusion creates a harmonious yet heterogeneous aesthetic, breaking the conventional boundaries between “high” and “low” art. While his paintings draw from Pop Art, they also carry a critical perspective on social and political issues, reflecting Sudo’s unique viewpoint on contemporary life.

Yusuke Asai
B. 1989 in Tokyo, Japan

Yusuke Asai is a Japanese contemporary artist known for his site-specific, nature-driven installations that merge traditional Japanese painting, street art, and environmental consciousness. His work is deeply influenced by the rhythms of nature, Shinto spirituality, and ecological awareness, transforming everyday spaces into immersive, organic landscapes. Asai is renowned for his use of local, natural materials, including mud, soil, plant pigments, and organic dyes, which he applies directly onto walls, floors, and ceilings. His ephemeral murals, designed to eventually fade, reflect themes of impermanence, sustainability, and the interconnectedness of life. By sourcing materials from each location, Asai ensures that his work remains deeply tied to the land, evolving with its surroundings. Asai has exhibited internationally, including at the Japan Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, the Rice Gallery in Houston, and the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo. His work resonates across cultures, advocating for a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.Through his ephemeral, site-specific installations, Asai creates dynamic, transformative experiences, urging audiences to embrace the fragility and beauty of our planet while reimagining art as a tool for environmental awareness and connection.