BOOOOOOOM! – CREATE * INSPIRE * COMMUNITY * ART * DESIGN * MUSIC * FILM * PHOTO * PROJECTS

“Excavation Record I – Sayonara” by Artist Kosuke Ajiro

Staff — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 19:27:41 +0000

Kosuke Ajiro

GR gallery is pleased to present Excavation Record I – Sayonara, the first solo exhibition in the United States by Japanese artist Kosuke Ajiro. The exhibition introduces Ajiro’s distinctive practice through the figure of the archeologist, who ventures into a whimsical and enigmatic imagined realm known as the “Kingdom of Sally.” Across the exhibition, each work reveals a fragment of this mysterious world, uncovering earthbound creatures and curious details before opening onto a vast, fantastical expanse. Moving between the familiar and the otherworldly, Ajiro’s works invite the viewer on a journey of mystery, magic, transformation, and discovery. As the story gradually reveals itself, viewers are invited to witness the rise and fall of the ‘Kingdom of Sally’ and participate in piecing together the discovered fragments that will one day rest in a temple dedicated to the art of storytelling. In Excavation Record I – Sayonara, Ajiro presents a body of mythology originating from the kingdom known as the “Sally Mythology.” The seventh chapter of this mythos, Sayonara, is believed to recount the end of the world, depicting a cataclysmic event comparable to Ragnarök in Norse mythology. Adopting the persona of an excavator, Ajiro positions himself not as the creator of these artworks, but as an archeologist and historian uncovering, reconditioning and presenting traces of a lost civilization. The exhibition unveils thirty artifacts as revealed historical fragments of an ancient mural excavated near Tokyo Skytree, depicting the events of Sayonara which Ajiro then restored onto canvas. By placing himself within the mythology and inviting viewers to assume the role of fellow discoverers, Ajiro creates an immersive narrative where the pieces act as records of the kingdom, tracing it from ancient times to its demise during the medieval period.

on display until October 24.