Mr.'s Whimsical Love: Special Exhibition at the Neiwei Arts Center
The artist, Mr., a disciple of Takashi Murakami, has pioneered a new chapter in Japanese contemporary art since the mid-1990s with works that combine Otaku culture imagery. Growing up in the 1980s, an era characterized by the prevalence of anime, manga, and subculture, Mr. incorporates his personal life experiences and the Japanese social atmosphere into his creations. He was the first to develop new artistic value in the style of anime and manga with his depictions of young girls, and is a key representative of the "Superflat" movement. This exhibition is curated by Takeshi Kudo, Director of the Tagawa City Art Museum, and presents approximately 70 works by the artist Mr., including large-scale paintings, three-dimensional sculptures, early receipt graffiti, etc., inviting the audience to step into the contemporary reality and imagination reflected by Mr.'s "kawaii" (cuteness).
What to expect
Neiwei Arts Center Special Exhibition: "Mr.'s Whimsical Love"
- Exhibition Period: 2025/11/11 - 2026/04/26
- Exhibition Venue: Neiwei Arts Center (No. 329, Makadao Road, Gushan District, Kaohsiung City)
- Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00-21:00 (Closed on Mondays and Chinese New Year's Eve)
- Last admission for the special exhibition: 20:30
- Official Website: https://www.nwac.org.tw/
- Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NeiweiArtsCenter
- Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neiweiartscenter/
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This year-end, Japanese artist Mr.'s solo exhibition, "Mr.'s Whimsical Love," will grandly open at the Neiwei Arts Center. The exhibition will run from November 11, 2025, to April 26, 2026, showcasing his receipt drawings, large-scale paintings, sculptures, and other works that have never been exhibited in Taiwan.
Mr. (1969–) is one of the most representative contemporary Japanese artists, known for introducing manga, anime, and other Otaku culture into the field of contemporary art. Mr. grew up during the booming period of Japanese anime, games, and subcultures, and these diverse experiences have become the artist's creative nourishment. As early as the mid-1990s, while working as Takashi Murakami's assistant and exploring self-expression, Mr. began to transform anime/manga girls with strong psychological obsessions into the art context, pioneering the new artistic value of anime and manga styles with girl images, and is regarded as an important representative of the contemporary art "Superflat" movement.
Mr.'s girl characters are mostly presented in a frontal, horizontal posture, allowing viewers to meet them at an equal distance, showcasing a world view that is both gorgeous and chaotic. In the 2000s, he devoted himself to painting large-scale acrylic paintings, placing girl images in delicate landscapes, blending the visual landscape of anime and Ukiyo-e aesthetics, revealing the complex cultural context under Japan's "kawaii" culture. In recent years, Mr.'s works have not only focused on gorgeousness and cuteness but also present the anxiety and unease after the Great East Japan Earthquake. He juxtaposes "order" and "chaos," happiness and destruction, entrusting them to the image of the girl. Through this visual language, Mr. not only shapes his personal style but also reflects the core state of contemporary Japanese culture. It can be said that he mixes the "order" of traditional painting with the "chaos" of modern Japanese society and skillfully harmonizes the two, thereby giving birth to a variety of dynamic entities.
This exhibition is specially planned by Kenji Kudo, Director and Curator of the Tagawa Art Museum, presenting artist Mr.'s complete creative context in Kaohsiung for the first time, allowing the audience to get a glimpse of Mr.'s unique creative universe.
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Good to know
Neiwei Arts Center | Venue Introduction
Located in Gushan, Kaohsiung, the [Neiwei Arts Center] combines modern architecture with natural landscapes to create a new art settlement that is most accessible to citizens. It not only exhibits contemporary art and cross-disciplinary works, but also holds performances, lectures, and parent-child activities, bringing art into daily life.
Whether you are an art lover or a traveler looking for a relaxing afternoon, you can experience the surprises and emotions that art brings!
The interior space design of the center is full of ingenuity. Through skylights, light, and plants, it creates a bright and transparent atmosphere, making people feel comfortable and relaxed. Here, you can enjoy diverse contemporary art exhibitions, many of which are very accessible and have no difficult-to-understand thresholds. In addition, various lectures, markets, and workshops are often held here, making art no longer out of reach, but a life interest that can be actually experienced and participated in.
The Neiwei Arts Center is close to Neiwei Station, making transportation very convenient. There are also attractions such as Mount Chai and the Museum of Fine Arts Park nearby, making it very suitable for a relaxing and artistic half-day or day trip.
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Neiwei Arts Center | Transportation Information
- Official Website: https://www.nwac.org.tw/tw/visit-info
▲ Neiwei Arts Center Transportation Guide
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Neiwei Arts Center | Redemption Location and Method
- Verification Method: Please go to the special exhibition ticket gate in front of the multi-faceted exhibition room on the first floor, and the service staff will scan the QR code for verification before entering. (Two people must enter at the same time, and you can enter the exhibition multiple times on the same day with the special exhibition stamp)
▲ Special Exhibition Ticket Gate in Front of the Multi-faceted Exhibition Room on the First Floor
▲ Neiwei Special Exhibition Ticket Gate - Map
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Neiwei Arts Center | Visitor Information and Precautions
- Please abide by the museum's visiting guidelines and do not touch or damage the exhibits or facilities. If damage is caused by human factors, you will be liable for relevant compensation.
- Smoking is strictly prohibited in the museum. After entering the museum, please do not run, chew gum, betel nuts, or engage in other behaviors that affect the rights of others to visit.
- Please do not eat or drink in the restaurant or in areas other than the designated dining area in the museum.
- Please do not bring pets (except guide dogs performing official duties) or dangerous items into the museum.
- Commercial activities are prohibited in public spaces.
- Coin-operated lockers are available in the museum.
- The operating hours of each space in the museum are subject to on-site announcements.
- Once any item or gift in the package is verified and used, no refunds or exchanges will be accepted.
- This ticket is limited to one person per ticket, and each electronic ticket can only be used once. It cannot be reused after verification and entry.
- In the event of force majeure (including but not limited to natural disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, and heavy rains), for the safety of the public, the organizer may postpone or cancel the event, and will announce and contact in advance. The organizer reserves the right to modify, terminate, or change the details of the event.
- For ticket restrictions, please refer to the special exhibition information on the Neiwei Arts Center official website.
Location