09-13 Sat. – 09.28 Sun., 2025
PAGIC Gallery is pleased to present “White Paradise”, a solo exhibition by Ayaka Nakagawa.
Drawing inspiration from the energy of ecosystems woven by living organisms, Nakagawa creates works that iconically depict motifs from nature using vibrant paints and embroidery. In addition to her artistic practice, she also provides illustrations for books and advertisements.
For this exhibition, she forgoes the use of fabric as a base material, instead employing white threads and ribbons to intricately express the delicate details of living ecosystems. These works are created using a freestyle machine embroidery technique, where forms emerge through the intertwining of threads. Through this act, she extracts the very elements of life—the way plants transport nutrients through their veins, and how living beings circulate life within their cells—resulting in a method that resonates with the artist as both delicate and powerfully life-affirming.
Bathed in sunlight, absorbing rainwater, drawing nourishment from the soil—plants grow alongside strangely shaped mushrooms peeking out from the fungal networks spreading deep underground. Each plant and creature is carefully formed and multiplied through the intertwining of threads, constructing a singular ecosystem: “White Paradise”. We invite you to immerse yourself in this world, as if stepping into a mysterious paradise of pure white.
Artist
Ayaka Nakagawa
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture. Graduated from Tama Art University, Department of Design, specializing in Textile Design. Began working as an illustrator while still a student. After graduation, worked as a bag designer, lecturer at a design vocational school, product planner, and designer, while continuing creative activities as a freelance illustrator.
She primarily creates works using her original technique—painting on canvas fabric in place of paper with acrylic paints, and adding freehand machine embroidery in place of pen lines. Actively engaged in a variety of fields, including advertising, magazines, logos, and design projects.
Photo by Yojiro Kuroyanagi