THE SCENE by Ulala Imai Rei Imai works collection

About the productJapanese

A collection of works by Japanese painter Rei Imai. Published in conjunction with an exhibition held at Karma Gallery in New York from July to September 2022. This is the artist's first solo exhibition at the gallery. Texts are contributed by independent curator Douglas Fogle and Hiji Nam, gallery guide at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

Teddy bears, toys, and fruit appear in the artist's inner fantasy compositions. In this series, small moments are depicted vividly and vividly. Nam Hee Ji states that the artist references pop culture such as "Peanuts Comics" and "Star Wars" to create "a fairy-tale world of magical mannerism" with her delicate still-life works.

A doll is placed among the flowers, overripe bananas and gold teddy bears are brimming with radiance, a "Star Wars" figure stands on the side of a road, moonlight shines on tree branches, and a deer stands in front of a forest. The soft and delicate paintings, with quick, unwavering strokes, depict an elegant reality. The artist then retains the subject of this reality as a memory, and with its grand scale, draws the viewer into his own worldview.

Influences from Velázquez and Édouard Manet have defined the artist's style with its large gestures in drawing and its use of light. In his work Ophelia (Lucy) (2022), the artist draws on the time-honoured pictorial tradition to superimpose the tragic death of Shakespeare's heroine Hamlet on Lucy from the Peanuts series. This modest gesture is counterpointed in Lovers (2022), in which Lucy and Charlie Brown from the Peanuts series sit in a tree, embodying a so-called conventional romantic partnership. Everywhere, the artist delves into the emotions of his subjects to capture tender moments, carefully guiding the viewer through the transitions of fleeting moments when the everyday becomes extraordinary. Then, the most important events in life appear without warning, reminding us all that we all need: the true value of life lies in the smallest details.


In our daily lives, we sometimes come across memorable scenes that touch our hearts.

The setting sun shining on abandoned toys, the clear night sky visible through the gaps between the passing trees, the garden swaying in the breeze outside the window.

It's not a special place by any means,
When various coincidences bring the balance into place, it creates a dramatic scene.

It was like a carefully orchestrated movie scene.

That moment is gone and will never come back.

I want to depict a scene like that.

The repetition of the four seasons allows people to see scenery that remains almost unchanged and makes them feel nostalgic for days that have passed.

I often draw motifs that evoke nostalgia.

They show us the same appearance even after centuries.

I gave them roles like actors and had them appear in the scene.
He believes that viewers feel as if they are witnessing the impressive scenes depicted in the painting.

-Rei Imai

Product Information

release date PRE-ORDER (Expected to arrive in early May)

Part numberGART13171W-9781949172942

Specification Hardcover / 140p / W260 x H310 mm

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