SOMETA’s worldview is at once both nostalgic and fresh, shaped by pop culture - such as anime and games - and infused with a contemporary sensibility born of social media. Through portraits of young women, this exhibition re-examines the concept what constitutes “standard” as it shifts from the past to the present and into the future.
untitled
2026
Acrylic on canvas
72.7 x 60.6 x 4 cm
untitled
2026
Acrylic on canvas
72.7 x 60.6 x 4 cm
untitled
2026
Acrylic on canvas
53 x 53 x 6 cm
untitled
2026
Acrylic on canvas
53 x 53 x 6 cm
untitled
2026
Acrylic on canvas
53 x 53 x 6 cm
untitled
2026
Acrylic on canvas
53 x 53 x 6 cm
SOMETA
SOMETA began creating digital illustrations in 2020 and launched their career as an artist in 2022. With a focus on the theme of redefining memory, they re-examine landscapes and cultural elements encountered during childhood through a contemporary lens, reconstructing personal memories into imagery that resonates across eras. They also create works using media that embody memories themselves - such as game consoles and CD players - as their canvas. While rooted in a respect for 1990s Japanese culture, the artist avoids seeing it merely as a source of nostalgia; instead, by connecting it to modern sensibilities, they craft visual experiences where the past and present quietly coexist. The figure NEEDY, which frequently appears in their work, symbolizes the distinctively modern sensation of wanting to be fulfilled yet remaining perpetually unfulfilled, thereby giving expression to the secret desires and loneliness that we may harbor.
We live our lives constantly seeking new things, including the internet, social media, and AI.
The times continue to change dramatically, and our lives and values are constantly being updated.
I started my practice as an artist through social media, and the internet has given me a place to express myself and an opportunity to connect with many people.
That’s why I want to embrace new eras and new technologies with a positive attitude.
On the other hand, the brands, games, music, magazines, and cityscapes I encountered as a child - these too are important elements that strongly bind my memories and shape who I am today.
Things that were standard in the past, are standard now, and will become standard in the future are not in opposition to each other, but are in fact connected as a single flow, changing form with the times.
In this exhibition, I treat illustrations and logos as cultural symbols that reflect the times, and depict their transformation through my works.
Past memories, present sensibilities, and new values that will be born in the future.
By overlapping these, we re-examine the standards that change with the times.
I hope this exhibition encourages you to reflect on your own standards - not by fearing change, but by embracing and enjoying it.
SOMETA