We are pleased to present the third solo exhibition at WALLS TOKYO by Minoru Inoue.

Inoue entered the painting department of an art university in the late 1980s, a time when new forms of expression were emerging one after another under the banner of “contemporary art.” Although he had entered art school out of a desire to paint, he recalls feeling compelled by the prevailing atmosphere of the time to engage with concept-driven contemporary art.

While admiring and challenging himself to pursue contemporary art, Inoue struggled with the feeling that he could not fully express himself through it. Around the turn of the 2000s, he began to approach painting with a somewhat liberated attitude, thinking, “I should simply paint the way I want to.” Through this shift in perspective, he gradually came to discover his own approach to painting.

The paintings that emerged from this process possess a quiet yet deeply rooted beauty. By gently setting aside deliberate intervention in his practice, Inoue has arrived at an expression that is distinctly his own. Rather than pursuing originality for its own sake, he has found his way by letting go of his own intentions and control.

We warmly invite you to visit the exhibition.


photo: Masaru Yanagiba