Ota Art Museum & Library is presenting the sixth installment of its ongoing series that brings together books and art, taking advantage of the facility's distinctive character as a combined art museum and library.
About the Exhibition
Exhibition of Books and Art vol.6: Retelling showcases works created by "retracing" subjects mediated through language — primarily literary works. Within the context of this exhibition, "retracing" means to follow, receive, and reproduce a given subject in one's own way. Works born from this process are presented through the approaches of three artists. Natsuki Oshiro and Ryo Orikasa each take literary works as their subject, while Haruka Matsumoto focuses on news accounts of incidents circulating through society. The expressive methods on display span painting, installation, animation, lithography, manga, and more.
In an era when the internet and social media have become inseparable from daily life, words and images are consumed at an ever-increasing pace, fed into algorithms that drive yet more consumption. This exhibition offers an opportunity to engage slowly and thoughtfully with words and the way images emerge from them, and to reflect anew on the imaginative and creative power that language holds.
Exhibition Information
Name: Exhibition of Books and Art vol.6: Retelling
Venue: Ota Art Museum & Library
Dates: July 18 (Sat) – September 6 (Sun), 2026
Closed: Mondays (except July 20), July 21, July 28, August 25
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (entry to the exhibition room closes at 5:30 PM)
Admission: ¥500 (¥400)
The ¥400 rate applies to groups of 20 or more and holders of an Ota Art Museum & Library Card or Furatto Ryomo Tobu Free Pass. Free admission for students and below, persons aged 65 and over, and holders of a Physical Disability Certificate, Mental Disability Health and Welfare Certificate, or Rehabilitation Certificate (one accompanying person per certificate holder also admitted free). Families with children in middle school or below are admitted free on Ota Family Days (August 2 [Sun] and September 6 [Sun]).
Organizers: Ota City; General Foundation Ota City Culture and Sports Promotion Foundation
Cooperating Partners: Haruna Lake Artist Residence (Takasaki City), Yanai Initiative, Makoto Takayanagi, Kyoto Seika University Faculty of Art Printmaking Course
Supported by: Nomura Foundation
More details on the official website
Exhibiting Artists
Natsuki Oshiro — Artist
Born in Tokyo in 1985, Oshiro studied at Waseda University's School of Literature (Arts and Culture), Asagaya College of Art and Design (Painting), and Tokyo Zokei University Graduate School (Fine Art). She has exhibited her work both in Japan and internationally. Recent solo exhibitions in Japan include "project N94 Natsuki Oshiro" at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery. In 2018 she participated in the Shell Art Award Residency Support Program at the Cité internationale des arts in Paris. She holds the 26th Holbein Scholarship. In 2025 she traveled to Künstlerhaus Bethanien (Berlin) under the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Program for Overseas Study for Emerging Artists, and currently works between Berlin and Kanagawa Prefecture.
Oshiro reads scenes from classical literature and translates them into color, form, and pattern. The resulting works — paintings, sculptures, and installations — are characterized by pastel tones, abstract shapes, and repeating motifs that extend across walls to envelop viewers within the entire space.
Ryo Orikasa — Animation Artist
Born in Ibaraki Prefecture in 1986, Orikasa studied at Ibaraki University (Education), the Image Forum Institute of the Moving Image, and Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School (Film and New Media). He has presented works at film festivals and exhibitions in Japan and abroad. His 2016 work Datum Level received the Ofuji Noburō Award at the 70th Mainichi Film Awards; his 2023 work Miserable Miracle won the Grand Prix at the Ottawa International Animation Festival; and his 2025 work Graffiti received the Off-Limits Award at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
Taking literary works as his starting point, Orikasa creates animation using a wide variety of techniques. He carefully reads and absorbs the written characters and their presentation, the words that carry meaning and conjure images, the rhythm and intonation of speech, and the author's background — then distills all of this into moving images using whatever technique best fits each work.
Haruka Matsumoto — Printmaker and Artist
Born in Kyoto Prefecture in 1993, Matsumoto studied at Kyoto Seika University's Faculty of Art (Printmaking) and Kyoto City University of Arts Graduate School (Printmaking). She has presented work in solo and group exhibitions. A recent solo exhibition was "Channel 16: Haruka Matsumoto — Dream" at Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art (2025). In 2025 she received an Excellence Award at "Kyoto Art for Tomorrow 2025 — Kyoto Prefecture New Excellence Selection Exhibition," and in 2026 she received a Special Jury Award at the 3rd Koji Kinutani Art Prize.
Since 2021, Matsumoto has been based in the Kansai region, working also as a courtroom sketch artist. She creates works — including lithographs — by tracing the course of actual events and inserting her own self-portrait in place of those involved. By running information through her own body, she produces pieces in which the real and the imagined coexist.
Related Events
1. Talk Session with All Three Artists — "Retelling" (Application Deadline: July 17)
The three exhibiting artists will discuss their exhibited works and the themes of the exhibition.
Date: July 25 (Sat), 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Speakers: Natsuki Oshiro, Ryo Orikasa, Haruka Matsumoto
Venue: 3F Audiovisual Hall, Ota Art Museum & Library
Audience: Open to all / Capacity: 50
Participation Fee: Free (exhibition ticket required)
2. Kids' Art Walk (Application Deadline: July 24)
Museum staff will lead elementary school students and their guardians through the exhibition using worksheets. As this session falls on an Ota Family Day, guardians may attend the exhibition free of charge.
Date: August 2 (Sun), 11:00 AM (approx. 40 minutes)
Venue: Exhibition galleries
Audience: 10 elementary school students and their guardians (up to 2 guardians per child)
Participation Fee: Free (guardians also free due to Ota Family Day)
3. Gallery Talk with the Curator in Charge (Application Deadline: July 31)
The curator will walk participants through the exhibition, explaining the themes and works on display. Participants will receive a commentary sheet.
Date: August 9 (Sun), 11:00 AM (approx. 40 minutes)
Venue: Exhibition galleries
Audience: Open to all / Capacity: 10
Participation Fee: Free (exhibition ticket required)
4. Museum Visit with Your Baby (Application Deadline: August 14)
A session designed for babies, with an introduction to the museum's baby-friendly facilities alongside a viewing of the exhibition — a great opportunity for a baby's museum debut.
Date: August 29 (Sat), 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Venue: Exhibition galleries
Audience: Babies aged 3–12 months and their guardians (up to 2 guardians per baby); capacity: 5 groups
Participation Fee: Free (guardians must hold an exhibition ticket)
How to Apply for Related Events (Events 1–4)
Applications are accepted via the application form on the museum's website. If the number of applicants exceeds capacity, a lottery will be held and results will be notified.
