Surreal and strange, yet familiar. The exhibition "Index #7" by artists Yukari Nishi and magma will be held.

Untitled Scene: U. 2023. Oil on canvas. 227.3 x 181.8 cm. Photo by Arito Nishiki. Courtesy of Gallery COMMON.

Gallery COMMON" presents a variety of domestic and international art against the backdrop of Harajuku's street culture.

The exhibition will feature 19 new paintings by artist Yukari Nishi and three-dimensional works by the artist unit magma, which creates works using discarded objects, everyday objects, and objects collected on a daily basis.

Yukari Nishi. similar: C. 2023. Oil on canvas. 130.3 x 130.3 cm. Photo by Arito Nishiki. Courtesy of Gallery COMMON.

Yukari Nishi. Untitled Scene: W. 2023. Oil on canvas. 65.2 x 53 cm. Photo by Arito Nishiki. Courtesy of Gallery COMMON.

Yukari Nishi. Woman: G. 2023. Oil on canvas. 116.7 x 91 cm. Photo by Arito Nishiki. Courtesy of Gallery COMMON.

Strange humanoid characters with teddy bears and hamburger heads, rainbow-colored Jell-O and flamingo ice cream, faded floral wallpaper and large couches, and the occasional floating denture.

The scenes depicted in Nishi's paintings resemble retro American TV shows with a unique presence.

The work stars quirky characters who live a story that makes no sense, but in fact, there are glimpses of themes such as "family" and "love. Most of the characters are in or near their homes, sharing sweets, giving each other things, holding or hugging each other about something...what we associate with this is family life. These characters seem monstrous and even frightening at first, but the work gives us a sense of different beings trying to bond with each other despite the absurdity of their lives.

Yukari Nishi x magma. Courtesy of the artist and Gallery COMMON.

Yukari Nishi x magma. Courtesy of the artist and Gallery COMMON.

Yukari Nishi x magma. Courtesy of the artist and Gallery COMMON.

Inspired by the recurring characters in Nishi's paintings, magma creatively remixes them. Reinterpreted into whimsical three-dimensional creatures are the works by magma.

The materials of the works, which were created in different periods and countries, are combined as a collection of selected images, just as in Nishi's paintings.

A surreal and strange world where suffocation and happiness intersect. The reason why it is so bizarre yet familiar may be because it reflects the absurdity of our daily lives. We invite you to step into the unique world created through the collaboration of Nishi and magma.