[Flower artist and spatial designer Kumano Toshiya] Exploring the mystique of “flowers” and “humans,” Kumano Toshiya’s solo exhibition “FROZEN STRINGS” will be held for three days only, starting Friday, September 26th. Flower arranger and spatial director Toshiya Kumano Press release: September 3, 2025 Exploring the mysteries of “flower” and “humanity,” Kumano Toshiya’s solo exhibition “FROZEN STRINGS” will be held for three days only, starting Friday, September 26th. Kumano Toshiya’s solo exhibition “FROZEN STRINGS” will be held at PLAT SHIBUYA (Jingumae, Shibuya-ku) from Friday, September 26th to Sunday, September 28th, 2025.
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・About the Exhibition To separate flowers and plants from their native habitat and move and display them, they first need a place to land. Whether indoors or outdoors, preparing a space in which to display a plant so that its innate vitality can shine forth is a matter of courtesy and a test of the arranger’s skill. When elegance, lyricism, and an indescribable atmosphere are blended together, the resulting space becomes a work of art. Furthermore, paying attention to even the empty spaces leads to a uniquely Japanese aesthetic, including the “beauty of white space.” Focusing on this blank space and constructing a work requires the viewer to fully utilize their imagination. The finished work can only be discovered by those present in the moment. Imagination is a mysterious quality inherent in humans and a testament to our humanity. I strongly feel that these days, the space and time to further nurture the rich imagination that is inherent in humans are being lost. With this personal frustration and the current uncertain state of the world coinciding, I felt the need to exhibit my work and decided to hold a solo exhibition. This work, which incorporates many elements of fantasy literature, will immerse viewers in a mysterious world and transport them to a dream they have never experienced before. This visual art piece will utilize not only plants, but also music, video, and lighting, to create a feeling of being transported into the heavens. ・Exhibition overview Toshiya Kumano solo exhibition “FROZEN STRINGS” Period｜September 26, 2025 (Friday) – September 28, 2025 (Sunday) Opening hours｜11:00-20:00 *Open every day during the exhibition period Venue｜PLAT Shibuya (Ms Harajuku B1, 6-27-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001) Admission fee｜Free ・Credit Artist / Artist Hisaya Kumano Producer / Producer Robin Rastenberger Sound Director Akira Kawasaki (mouse on the keys)/ Akira Kawasaki (mouse on the keys) Film Crew WHOYOU Yuki Inomata / Yuki Inomata Hayato Ina / Hayato Ina Technical Support / Technical Support Yoh Murata / Kyo Imai ・About the Work Immerse yourself in the off-axis flow of time that flows within the space created by the artist, and in this other-worldly space, the audience is invited to activate their imaginations and discover the completed form of the work within themselves. This concept has always been at the heart of the works I have presented to date. This time, to further pursue this goal, I needed to spend more time constructing the work. To create a work with solid foundations rather than superficial beauty or interest, I intentionally chose materials that take an extremely long time to create. Although not specifically referred to as plants, I also incorporated components secreted by trees over a long period of time into the work. The overall atmosphere is different from previous works, with a more indigenous feel to the elements, without a science fiction feel, so that the work itself feels like it has existed in the present day, having been created over a long period of time. (This exhibition is scheduled to travel to Paris, France in 2026.) ・Artist profile Hisaya Kumano Born in Osaka in 1975. Influenced by his father, a Western-style painter and ceramics collector, he spent his childhood surrounded by art. He went on to study oil painting at Konan High School’s art department, which boasted a large, specialized facility, rare at the time. While attending school, he briefly traveled to the United States to study abroad. He returned to Japan upon graduating from high school there. She graduated from a Japanese high school by transferring to another school. She then enrolled in Tokyo Bunka Fashion College and worked as a fashion and costume designer for several years. However, in her late 20s, she began to feel a disconnect with the aesthetic sense she had cultivated up until then. She discovered ikebana. Since then, he has created works ranging from classical pieces to unique interpretations of contemporary art. He has been involved in a wide range of projects, from large-scale floral arrangements and direction for major Japanese Noh theaters, luxury hotels, and film sets, to more minimalist projects such as famous inns, restaurants, and fashion brand exhibitions. His work spans not only Japan, but also New York, Seoul, and Buenos Aires. For the second consecutive year, he has been the total producer of the Associate Program at the Matsumoto Architecture and Art Festival, which began in 2022. He has collaborated with Noh performers, contemporary dancers, and musicians active in various fields at Satoyama Villa Honjin, a nationally registered tangible cultural property, and the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, designed by architect Kazuo Shinohara. He has also presented several performing arts works, and is responsible for all aspects of the production, including direction, costumes, and lighting. Currently, he is not affiliated with any organization or teaching, and is solely focused on creating his own works. In order to maximize the energy and mystique of plants, he specializes in creating unique and fantastical worlds, sometimes even creating large-scale spaces to display them. In recent years, he has been presenting large-scale works, incorporating elaborate music, video, and even lighting, in order to encourage viewers to use their imaginations more and discover infinite possibilities. Instagram account ・Exhibition record ・2024 “reaching into…for Berlin Art Week 2024” MaHalla Berlin ・2023 Solo exhibition “reaching into…” Aoyama elephant STUDIO/Nakameguro HVEN “Nature takes on HVEN” ・2023 Matsumoto Architecture Art Festival 2023 “15minuets after” video work “On 9 Rainy Days” Japan Ukiyo-e Museum ・2022 Matsumoto Architecture Art Festival 2022 “Eleven Nines the Performance” Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property Satoyama Villa Honjin ・2022 Eikasohana Suidobashi Hosho Noh Theater ・2021 Solo exhibition “eleven nines” Nakameguro Just Another Space ・2020 Ikebana performance during Mouse On The Keys live performance at HIKARIE Hall ・2019 Performing Art “CCD622 – lightning” Shimokitazawa Half Moon Hall ・2019 Performing Art “CCD622” Sangenjaya, Yongenjaya, and the Triangle Area ・2018 Welcome Flower Arrangement at Suidobashi Noh Theater / Welcome Flower Arrangement at Kyoto Kongo Noh Theater / Ikebana Performance and Venue Decoration at the Hyatt Regency Tokyo ・2017 Welcome Flower Arrangement at Suidobashi Noh Theater / Welcome Flower Arrangement at Osaka Noh Theater ・2016 Welcome Flower Arrangements, Suidobashi Noh Theater / Welcome Flower Arrangements, Mimasuya, Yugawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture Concert Venue Flower Arrangements “Gen Peridots Cuarteto” Hongo Kyudo Kaikan / Welcome Flower Arrangements, Osaka Noh Theater ・2015 Flower Arrangements for Welcoming the New Year at Suidobashi Hosho Noh Theater / Flower Arrangements for Welcoming the New Year at Kyoto Kongo Noh Theater
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/128684/5/128684-5-af20bb8f288f78e1b1187157d98e2299-844×568.jpg 2024 “Nature takes over HVEN” (Nakameguro HVEN / HVEN Nakameguro) An installation art piece was exhibited at the year-end countdown event held at Nakameguro Haven. The main feature was a 6m-long wisteria vine stretching from the table to the ceiling, blending primitive plants such as orchids, raspberries, and ferns into the decadent venue. The exhibition was originally scheduled for one day, but was extended for two weeks. 2024 Matsumoto Architecture and Art Festival 2024 “Panta Rhei” (Ex-Matsumoto City Museum) For approximately one month, works were exhibited in a building that was scheduled for demolition in a few months. During the exhibition, works were presented that undergo changes over the long term, such as decaying plants and the
development of verdigris from copper powder.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/128684/5/128684-5-76a8744d272f699d8c0dc379248b522c-3900×2600.jpg 2024 “reaching into… for Berlin Art Week 2024” (MaHalla Berlin/MaHalla Berlin) “Reaching into…,” presented last year, will be exhibited at Berlin Art Week 2024. All materials except driftwood and vessels were sourced locally. An article about the artist and his work was published in the culture section of Berliner Morgenpost, one of the three major local newspapers. 2023 Solo Exhibition “Reaching Into…” (elephant STUDIO Aoyama, Tokyo) This work combines extremely ancient plants, such as orchids, which originated in the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 66 million to 100 million years ago, with giant pieces of driftwood, centered around the first plants (algae) to appear on Earth approximately 2.7 billion years ago. This work traces the long history of plants and questions the purity of flower arranging itself.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/128684/5/128684-5-36eb72404fd73cee1a60b60fd6769c02-1801×2700.jpg 2023 Matsumoto Architecture Art Festival 2023 “15minutes after” (Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, Nagano) Exhibited ikebana works over 3 meters tall. Using plaster to resemble snow, the fantastical atmosphere astounded many visitors. Presented performance art that blended ikebana, dance, and music. The improvisation session moved the audience. Starring: Aoi Yamada, Steve Eto. 2020 “Mouse on the Keys Ikebana Performance During a Live Performance” (HIKARIE HALL) This performance piece sees the completion of a giant flower arrangement during a live performance by the internationally acclaimed instrumental band “Mouse on the Keys.”
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/128684/5/128684-5-bdec05958002e09349ed2f0f1ca42100-1280×852.jpg 2019 Performing Art “CCD622 – lightning” (Shimokitazawa Halfmonn Hall) A performance piece weaving together flower artists, musicians, and dancers. Each discipline intertwines within a timed sequence. It’s a rare piece that proceeds entirely through improvisation. 2015: Flower arrangements for the “1st Kyoto Manjiro Gathering” (Kongō Noh Theater, Kyoto) I was in charge of the flowers arrangements for the “1st Kyoto Manjiro Gathering” held at the Kongō Noh Theater in Kyoto. Image
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/128684/5/128684-5-ea2934f3ed1b3b4188c8841616546857-626×413.jpg ・Publications
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/128684/5/128684-5-85aff329bcaddb3557264aa3206c43ce-802×521.jpg 2017 “Ganka” (Photography Project with Tomohide) Ikeya) This collaborative project with photographer Tomohide Ikeya took five years to complete. The works are themed around the myths and legends of historic countries like Japan and Greece, and feature a single type of flower arranged on a person’s face. The locations, inspired by the theme, were also photographed in various locations, including Hiroshima and Kanazawa. (Available on Amazon) 2018 Book “Ikebana: When Listening to Flower Stories” (IBC Publishing) This book, in both Japanese and English, focuses on several types of flowers for each season and introduces anecdotes based on Japan’s unique historical background and culture.
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