Three Artists and a Cabinet of Curiosities

A new contemporary art exhibition opens this spring at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, bringing together three of Japan’s most distinctive artists in a show inspired by the idea of the “cabinet of curiosities.” Titled Cabinet of Curiosities: Disappearance, the exhibition presents works by Yasumasa Morimura, Kenji Yanobe, and Miwa Yanagi—three internationally recognized artists whose work has appeared in major museums and biennials around the world.

Morimura is known for his theatrical photographic self-portraits, in which he transforms himself into figures from art history, cinema, and global culture. Yanobe, an Osaka-associated sculptor, has built a reputation for imaginative works that blend robotics, science fiction, and post-industrial fantasy, including large installations shown in museums and public spaces across Japan and internationally. Yanagi is celebrated for her staged photographic narratives and theatrical projects, often exploring identity, memory, and the passage of time through carefully constructed visual worlds.

Rather than presenting a traveling retrospective, Cabinet of Curiosities: Disappearance is an exhibition organized specifically by the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, bringing these three artists together in an original concept show. The exhibition introduces the theme of “disappearance,” exploring absence, transformation, and the way objects and identities shift or fade over time.

Visitors will encounter a wide range of works throughout the galleries, from Morimura’s striking photographic reinterpretations of iconic paintings and historical figures to Yanobe’s sculptural creations inspired by futuristic machines and speculative worlds. Yanagi’s large-scale photographic tableaux add another layer to the exhibition, presenting carefully staged scenes that feel both cinematic and dreamlike. Together, the works form a kind of contemporary “cabinet” of artistic curiosities—objects, images, and installations that invite visitors to reflect on identity, technology, memory, and the shifting boundaries between reality and imagination.

For visitors exploring Osaka’s cultural side, the exhibition offers an accessible entry point into contemporary Japanese art. Located on Nakanoshima, the city’s cultural island between the Dojima and Tosabori rivers, the museum sits among concert halls, historic architecture, and riverside promenades, making it easy to combine a gallery visit with a wider exploration of one of Osaka’s most elegant districts.

 Artists Of Global Reach — Three internationally exhibited Japanese artists presented together.

 Disappearance As Theme — The exhibition explores absence, transformation, and the shifting boundaries between identity and memory.

 Osaka-Curated Exhibition — An original concept show organized by the Nakanoshima Museum of Art .

 Visual Storytelling — Photography, sculpture, and installation create immersive gallery experiences.

 Cultural Island Setting — Located in Nakanoshima, Osaka’s historic district of museums, concert halls, and riverside walks.

Photos: Official Website