LURF GALLERY will be holding a group exhibition, "1998_oid," featuring nine artists born in 1998, on the second floor.

Each of the nine artists creates unique works, but at the base of their work is a common generational outlook: they were all born in 1998. The thoughts and consciousness that are common to that generational outlook are reflected in their works.

The time from 1998 to the present is one that many of us, the viewers, have lived through together. We hope that through the works of the nine artists in this exhibition, you will be able to share even a small part of their thoughts and feelings. The exhibition will run from Friday, April 18, 2025 to Monday, May 19, 2025.

Exhibition overview

Group exhibition "1998_oid"

Period｜April 18th (Friday) – May 19th (Monday), 2025
Venue | LURF GALLERY 2F
Time｜11:00 - 19:00
Address: Roob1, 28-13 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0033
Admission: Free Organizer: LURF GALLERY
Artists: Tokio Kudo, Shigeo Saito, Ryuji Saito, Koryu Sawada, Ruri Takahashi, Mayo Narushima, Haru Matsuda, Kaede Yamato, Ryota Watanabe
Guest curator: Ryodai Kawaguchi Designer: Ryuji Saito *Exhibited works are for sale

Sales venue for exhibited works | Sales start from Friday, April 18, 2025 Website | Sales will start as soon as preparations are complete. *Applications are required for the exhibited works of Watanabe Ryota. Click here for the application form>>

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statement

I remember that song I listened to over and over again as a teenager, turn up the volume just a little, and press the play button.

I'm wondering if this will ever happen
I stare at the disgustedness that will be compounded by what happens.
Drawing a parabola, gliding after the rain
I rub my eyes and doubt the scenery, but I play the drums under it

Who are we, and who am I?
I couldn't help but sense a sense of urgent impatience, as well as a strange anxiety that could also be felt as a simple, innocent question, from "1998."
Our generation has lived our lives simply accepting this mysterious atmosphere.
We were born into this world at the end of the 20th century, a time when apocalyptic ideas were rampant. We went through the period of the rapid shift towards neoliberalism in the early 2000s, the global recession caused by the Lehman Shock in 2008, and then the unprecedented earthquake and pandemic. The world we lived in lacked any hope that could be expressed in broad terms. In this environment, we were simply forced to adapt to a society that continued to expand smoothly, and we only became good at adapting. There was no will behind it. We live our lives constantly harboring an unresolved confusion in our hearts.

However, even if that is the kind of life we ​​have, it is still our life, and somewhere in my heart I want to affirm it.

This exhibition, "1998_oid," features nine artists who share the same history and generational perspective. We invite you to stop, look at their works, and reconsider the time we live in.

Recalling that song I listened to repeatedly in my teenage years, I turn up the volume just a little and press play.

I'm wondering if that will happen any day now
Staring at the disgusting reality
Drawing a parabola, gliding after the rain
I rub my eyes and can't believe what I see, so I play the drums

Who are we, and who am I?
I could not help but feel the “strange anxiety” from them, “1998,” whether it was a sense of urgent frustration or just a pure and innocent question.
Our generation has lived by simply accepting this intangible air, almost unknowingly.
Born in the late 20th century, when apocalyptic thoughts ran rampant, we entered this world. Through the early 2000s, marked by a sharp turn toward neoliberalism, and the global recession caused by the 2008 financial crisis, we have faced unprecedented natural disasters and a pandemic. The world we lived in offered no grand hopes that could be spoken of with any large subjects. In the midst of that, we were forced to smoothly adapt to society, becoming only good at adapting. There was no will in it. We lived while carrying a constant sense of confusion, deep inside.

However, even if this life is as it is, there is no doubt that it is indeed my (our) life, and somewhere in my heart, I want to affirm it.

This exhibition, 1998_oid, is a group exhibition of nine artists who have lived through the same history and share the perspective of that generation. I hope you will pause, make eye contact, and reconsider this moment we are living in, through their works and the exhibition itself.

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