To the modern spirits breathing in the sacred garden of myths.

In April 2026, sculptor Yoshimasa Tsuchiya, AFLO+ (Afro Plus) Mayumi Minakawa, and Atelier Shimura will hold a collaborative exhibition titled "Yuniwa of Divine Deer." Yoshimasa Tsuchiya carves serene animals from wood. Mayumi Minagawa creates fantastical plants that weave stories. And Atelier Shimura weaves the vibrant colors of plant life. At the root of our creations is a shared commitment to giving form to nature's grace with human hands. This exhibition is the first collaboration for all three, and also a challenge to explore new landscapes of life born from the intersection and resonance of their respective worldviews.

The inspiration for this exhibition comes from the Kasuga Forest and the deer, which have been revered as "messengers of the gods" since ancient times. According to legend, Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto rode a white deer from Kashima in Hitachi Province and descended upon Mount Mikasa in Nara a year later. Reflecting on this sacred narrative, we hold deep reverence for the flora and fauna that have breathed life into this land since ancient times, and for the mysteries of nature. We conceived this exhibition under the theme of "Yuniwa," a sacred garden where rituals are performed.

Yoshimasa Tsuchiya's wood sculptures symbolizing the divine deer, Mayumi Minakawa's imaginary plants, and the vibrant colors of plant life from Atelier Shimura. Together, they will transform the venue into a sacred garden.

▪️Exhibition Overview
Dates: April 17th (Fri) - April 29th (Wed/Holiday), 12:00 - 17:30. Closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays *Open on public holidays
Venue: Atelier Shimura Gallery & School Tokyo, Setagaya
　　　6-17-7 Soshigaya, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Exhibited and Sold Items: Wood sculptures (Yoshimasa Tsuchiya), accessories/objects (AFLO+), hand-woven Tsumugi stoles (Atelier Shimura)
*Wood sculptures can be purchased through a lottery. Objects are also available for purchase.Details will be announced in early April via email newsletter and website.

Inquiries: tel: 03-6411-1215 mail: gallery@ateliershimura.co.jp

They will discuss the background of this exhibition, the interesting aspects arising from the collaboration of the three artists, and their creative processes from their respective perspectives.

▪️Event Overview
Date: April 18th (Sat) 10:30-11:30
Venue: Atelier Shimura Gallery & School Tokyo, Setagaya
Capacity: 12 people
Participation Fee: 2,200 yen (tax included)

*A portion of the talk event will be streamed on YouTube at a later date.

▪️Speaker Profiles

Yoshimasa Tsuchiya
A sculptor who carves forest animals and imaginary creatures from wood. He completed his doctoral degree in Conservation Sculpture at the Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School. His collected works include "Kikimimi no Mori" and "Evolution Theory" (Kyuryudo).https://yoshimasatsuchiya.com
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Since the 2016 exhibition "Yoshimasa Tsuchiya meets Shimura no Iro," he has held several collaborative exhibitions with Fukumi Shimura, Yoko Shimura, and Atelier Shimura.
He co-authored the picture book with Fukumi Shimura, "Meteo: The Story of Animals Raised by a Poet" (Kyuryudo).

AFLO+
From a single thread, a single piece of fabric, beautiful imaginary plants are born. AFLO+ creates such plant-motif works one by one by hand. Using traditional Kyoto silk threads as the main material, the works, which utilize texture and color, are delicate yet substantial. Based in Kyoto, AFLO+ creates elegant accessories, objects, and wedding items that are not overly sweet, and presents them at solo exhibitions and sales exhibitions.
https://afloplus.com/
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AFLO+ has collaborated with Atelier Shimura twice, using threads and fabrics dyed with plants by Atelier Shimura.

Click here for details and registration

　Images: "Untrodden 027" Photo: Mayumi Minakawa / "Deer" Photo: Yoshimasa Tsuchiya