We are pleased to announce that WALLS TOKYO will present "Narrative: Words and Images" from June 11 to July 18, 2026.

2026.6.11 thu – 2026.7.18 sat

wed – sat　12:00 – 19:00

closed　sun,mon,tue

This exhibition, titled Narrative: Words and Images, turns its attention to the diverse forms of storytelling constructed through words and images. Through illustrated books by contemporary artists and works that carry narratives within them, the show explores the many ways in which narrative can take shape.

The word "narrative" can be translated as "storytelling" or "discourse," but it refers to more than simply the content of a story. It is a concept that encompasses the very structure of narration itself — the perspective from which a story is told and the way in which it is conveyed.

In the context of contemporary art, narrative is understood as a mode of "telling" through which people make sense of the world and share their experiences. When the emotions and interpretations of the narrator come into play, and when images are layered alongside words, a story takes on richer, more complex meaning. By pairing language with imagery, new interpretations emerge from the work, forging a deeper connection between the piece and those who encounter it.

The exhibition features beautifully crafted books and illustrated volumes, alongside works imbued with narrative and art pieces that take the form of the book itself. Unlike viewing a single painting, illustrated books invite you to hold them in your hands and engage with them up close — allowing you to step further into the world of each work.

We hope this exhibition offers you an opportunity to draw a little closer to the works, and to savor the subtleties within them.