Awake to Dream

SomoS Arts proudly presents Yukiko Nakanos first solo exhibition outside of Japan, ‘Awake to Dream’ - a world where the delicate interplay of memory, dream, and urban landscapes comes to life. This exhibition delves into the overlap of memories, personal identity, and fragmented landscapes, capturing everyday scenes that drift between the real and surreal. 

Yukiko’s artistic process begins in the streets of the city—aimlessly wandering, collecting scenes that often go unnoticed but resonate deeply: a laundry line in a narrow alleyway, a discarded plant on a doorstep, or construction barriers framing a fleeting view of distant mountains. By capturing these quiet yet strikingly nostalgic moments, she builds an evocative visual narrative. 

“I’m drawn to scenes that seem out of place or moments that evoke an inexplicable sense of nostalgia... When I paint, I pull at the threads of my memories, embracing the ambiguity where the remembered and forgotten blend, much like a mist or haze.” 

Awake to Dream is inspired by Yukiko’s recent walks through Berlin, a city that, despite its differences, echoed the landscapes of Tokyo. Her paintings bring together these glimpses of two cities, weaving them into layered collages that blur geographic boundaries. Feedback from her social media followers, often remarking on the surprising likeness between Berlin and Tokyo in her photos, underscored this connection. In Awake to Dream, Yukiko seeks to create a sensory experience, similar to the “Proust effect,” where familiar images and subtle details call forth memories in the viewer.

The exhibition subtly reflects Yukiko’s sense of identity—an ongoing theme of navigating uncertainty and ambiguity. She says, “I often feel a sense of not quite knowing where I am, which brings a certain atmosphere of escapism to my work.” This exploration of place and self evokes the complexities of cultural and personal identity, resonating with viewers on multiple levels.

Awake to Dream follows her 2020 exhibition Ordinary than Paradise: As if Nothing Happened, a reflection on the disorienting shifts of daily life during the COVID-19 pandemic. In that body of work, she explored the dualities of the “Ordinary” and “Paradise,” and the ways we adapt to profound change. As the world began to reshape, Yukiko captured snapshots of virtual landscapes, using art to both escape from and engage with an altered reality. Through Awake to Dream, Yukiko Nakano offers Berlin’s art enthusiasts a captivating journey across cultures, memories, and dreamscapes, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own perceptions of place, identity, and nostalgia.

Join us in experiencing the delicate and immersive world of Yukiko Nakano, where dreams, memory, and urban landscapes converge, inviting viewers to ponder the beauty of the overlooked.