This time, we are pleased to present “concorde”, a new solo exhibition by artist Takeshi Sumi, who explores harmony through interventions in photography. The exhibition will be held from May 30 to July 1, 2025.
The title “concorde” comes from the French word for “harmony.” For Sumi, the starting point of creation lies in overcoming the distances and divisions between people to discover harmony. This exhibition showcases a series of works centered on photography, incorporating a range of techniques such as embroidery, slits, and light.
Through delicate manual interventions, Sumi reconstructs the relationship between the subject in the photograph and the photographer themselves. Photography as a medium often creates an inherently asymmetrical relationship between the one who takes and the one who is taken.
In order to bridge that divide, Sumi employs analog techniques such as embroidering onto photographs, piercing them to let light through, and adding slits, creating a tangible connection between himself and the subject.
These expressions are also an attempt to give form to what is “invisible yet felt”, the subtle shifts in perception that arise from encounters with his subjects. Often described as an “aura,” this quality reflects Sumi’s intent to allow both the conscious and unconscious to coexist within his work.
This exhibition goes beyond photography, employing a multifaceted composition to delve deeper into the theme of “concorde”—harmony. We invite you to experience the world of Takeshi Sumi’s art firsthand at the venue.
Profile: Takeshi Sumi
Born in Kyoto in 1981, Takeshi Sumi graduated from the School of Letters at Meiji University and later completed studies in Information Design at Tama Art University. His creative practice centers on photography and emphasizes physical sensation, exploring the theme of “discovering the world beyond what is visible.”
His published works include Sora ni Oyogu (Swimming in the Sky, 2012, Libro Arte) and Yubi to Hoshi (Fingers and Stars, 2019, Libro Arte). His works are part of the agnès b. collection, and he has contributed extensively to book covers and advertising visuals.
Sumi is also engaged in socially conscious art projects, such as Silhouette Family Exhibition (2023, organized by Kodomap), which focused on LGBTQ+ families.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
- 2025: Les Fantasies – What Once / Was / There – node hotel (Kyoto)
- 2024: For a better world – hIDE GALLERY TOKYO (Tokyo)
- 2023: Photographs, lost and born – hIDE GALLERY TOKYO (Tokyo)
- 2021: halo – BOOK AND SONS (Tokyo)
- 2020: Les Fantaisies – Galerie Grand E’Terna (Paris)
- 2019: Yubi to Hoshi – gallery Main (Kyoto)
- 2019: Fingers and Stars – Galerie Grand E’Terna (Paris)
- 2016: Existence is beyond the reflection and transmitted light – Shinpukan by gallery Main (Kyoto)
- 2015: Lumière et vous – Galerie Grand E’Terna (Paris)
- 2011: Hikari (Light) – Port Gallery T (Osaka)
- 2010: Meteor – Akarui Heya (Tokyo)
Art Projects
- 2023: Silhouette Family Exhibition – collaborative project with Kodomap (General Incorporated Association)
Selected Art Fairs
- 2024: ONE ART TAIPEI 2024 (Taipei) / hIDE GALLERY TOKYO
- 2023: ART FAIR ASIA FUKUOKA 2023 (Fukuoka) / hIDE GALLERY TOKYO
- 2017: fotofever (Paris) / gallery Main
- 2016: affordable art fair (New York)
- 2012: no found photo fair (Paris) / Libro Arte
- 2012: TOKYO PHOTO 2012 (Tokyo) / Libro Arte
Collections
- 2013: agnès b. collection
Publications
- Yubi to Hoshi (Fingers and Stars), September 2019 – Libro Arte
- Sora ni Oyogu (Swimming in the Sky), October 2012 – Libro Arte
Notable Work Contributions
- 2023: THE FORWARD vol.6 (Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha) – Cover
- 2022: Tōmei na Maku o Hedatenagara by Lin Kotomi (Hayakawa Publishing) – Cover
- 2022: Koi no Owari ni by Tsukuru Nishida (Gentosha) – Cover
- 2021: Kamisamatachi by Miki Mori (Kobunsha) – Cover
- 2020: JR Kyoto Isetan 20th Anniversary Visual
- 2020: Polaris ga Furisosogu Yoru by Lin Kotomi (Chikuma Shobō) – Cover
- 2020: Gunzō Vol.75 No.1 (Kodansha) – Cover
- 2019: Behavior by Junketsu Shindō (KADOKAWA, e-book) – Cover
- 2018: Spica for the Anonymous by Rio Shimamoto (Shoeisha, library edition) – Book Design
Exhibition Overview: Takeshi Sumi Solo Exhibition “concorde”
Dates: Friday, May 30 – Tuesday, July 1, 2025 (closed on Saturdays and Sundays)
Hours: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (11:00 AM – 4:00 PM on the last day)
Venue: GARDE Gallery
NBF ALLIANCE Building 4F, 5-2-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Admission: Free
URL: https://tinyurl.com/ys2z8hah