KONDOH Akino: Naming a Dream

The artist unveils her first new animation in 15 years.
On display are large amounts of sketches and drawings made in the process of finishing the work.

Information

Title: KONDOH Akino: Naming a Dream
Venue: Art Museum & Library, Ota
Date: November 21 (Sat), 2026 – January 24 (Sun), 2027
Closed: Mondays (open on public holidays 11/23 and 1/11), 11/24, 11/25, 12/22, 12/29-1/3, 1/12
Hours: 10:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30)
Admission: ¥500 (¥400)
Admission to the exhibits in Gallery 2 and Gallery 3 is free.
Discount (shown in parentheses above) for groups of 20 or more, holders of an Art Museum & Library, Ota membership card, and holders of a Furatto Ryomo Tobu Free Pass. Admission is free for children up to student age and persons aged 65 or above, as well as for holders of a physical, mental or other disability certificate, and one accompanying care person. On January 10 and every first Sunday of the month, admission is also free for families with children up to junior high school age.

Organizers: Ota City, Ota City Culture & Sports Promotion Foundation
Support: Toshiaki Ogasawara Memorial Foundation
Sponsor: Subaru Corporation
Cooperation: Mizuma Art Gallery, Akishobo

Exhibition outline

Kondoh Akino presents Never Before Named, her first new animation work in 15 years. Based in New York, Kondoh has been active across such fields as contemporary art, manga and essay writing, before starting to focus more seriously on this new work in 2020 after completing the manga series A-ko’s Boyfriends that she had first introduced back in 2014.
Shown alongside the new animated work are large amounts of sketches and drawings made in the process, as well as original drawings for Noodling in New York, a manga essay in which Kondoh illustrates her own creative work, zooming in on the artist’s latest creation from multiple different points of view.

Artist’s statement

Eighteen years ago, I once dreamed that I was giving birth to a baby. I woke up just when I had given it a name, and ever since that time, I have been thinking about that child. I have been thinking about a child that wasn’t born, but that has been given a name and therefore now certainly exists somewhere. It may all sound like a dream, but when I think about it, my creative practice has perhaps always been a means for grasping such vague, inscrutable kinds of things, by translating them one by one into words or pictures. Even though it has never been called by name, my child is now eighteen years old. I guess it’s about time to give this long dream a name, too.

Kondoh Akino

Biography

KONDOH Akino
Born 1980 in Chiba Prefecture. Based in New York since 2008. While studying at Tama Art University, she received an AX Manga Newcomer’s Award, Encouragement Award while the animation The Evening Traveling that she made at university won an Encouragement Prize in the animation division at the Japan Media Arts Festival. Kondoh’s works are included in the collections of the Asia Society (New York), Mori Art Museum (Tokyo), and other institutions. Recent exhibitions include “Domani: The Art of Tomorrow” (The National Art Center, Tokyo, 2022), “Never Before Named” (Mitsubishi Estate Artium, 2019), and “MAM SCREEN 008: Kondoh Akino” (Mori Art Museum, 2018) among others. The manga essay Noodling in New York has been published online as an ongoing series since 2012. Other publications include Ichinen mae no neko (Last year’s cats) (Nanarokusha), A-ko’s Boyfriends (Kadokawa), Noodling in New York (Akishobo), and numerous others.

 

Featured works

 

1. Never Before Named, 2024-2026 / single-channel animated video

 

2. Never Before Named, 2024-2026 / single-channel animated video

 

3. Never Before Named, 2024-2026 / single-channel animated video

 

4. Never Before Named, 2024-2026 / single-channel animated video

 

5. Never Before Named, 2024-2026 / single-channel animated video

 

 

6. Drawing for Animation 01, Mother, 2014 / pencil, acrylic paint, paper
Photo by Miyajima Kei

 

 

7. Never Before Named sketch series: 20221005-1, 2022 / pencil, acrylic paint, paper

 

 

8. Never Before Named drawing series: Torizukin and Stone, 2022 / pencil, acrylic paint, paper
Photo by Miyajima Kei
©︎KONDOH Akino, Courtesy of the artist and Mizuma Art Gallery

 

9. Noodling in New York: Episode 352 (excerpt), 2026 / ink, manga manuscript paper

 

Related events

1. Talk session with the artist [Apply by 10/27]
The artist talks about her work and the general theme of this exhibition.
Date & Time: November 21 (Sat), 14:00-15:30
Guest: KONDOH Akino
Place: AV Hall (3F)
Open to all visitors, limited to 50
Admission free (exhibition ticket required)
[After the talk event, the artist is planning to sign items. More details will be announced on the museum’s website.]

2. Enjoy the museum with infants [Apply by 11/6]
This guided tour around the museum and its facilities for families with babies will be a good opportunity for your child’s first experience at an art museum.
Date & Time: November 29 (Sun), 13:30-14:30
Place: Exhibition venue
Open to parents/caretakers (up to 2 each) with children aged 3-12 months, limited to 5 families/groups
Admission free (exhibition ticket required for adults)

3. Slide show and talk with the curator [Apply by 11/11]
The curator in charge will introduce highlights of the exhibition, and share various episodes related to the works on display.
Date & Time: December 5 (Sat), 14:00-15:00
Place: AV Hall (3F)
Open to all visitors, limited to 50
Admission free (exhibition ticket required)

4. Art walk for kids [Apply by 12/18]
Young visitors can take a casual walk around the exhibits while asking the museum staff about works that pique their interest.
Date & Time: January 10 (Sun), 11:00-11:40
Place: Exhibition venue
Open to elementary school students (limited to 5, with up to 2 caretakers each)
Admission free

Application forms for programs 1-4 will be available on the museum’s website from 10:00 on August 15 (Sat).
If the number of applications exceeds the respective program’s capacity, participants will be chosen by lottery and informed about the result.
Please use the application forms below, and make sure to enter all relevant information.

1. Application form “Talk session”
2. Application form “Enjoy the museum with infants”
3. Application form “Slide show and talk with the curator”
4. Application form “Art walk for kids”

– Applicants will receive a confirmation email from the museum. Please make sure your device is set to receive emails from the following address:
event_museum@artmuseumlibraryota.jp

 

– Photographs or video footage of events may be used for promotion of the exhibition or the museum in general, including posts on social media platforms during the event period. Please contact the museum staff if you do not wish to be photographed.

– Events may be canceled or details changed depending on circumstances, please check the latest information on the museum’s website or social media platforms.

Catalogue

An official exhibition catalogue will be published during the event period.