黒田零

Rei Kuroda

The exhibition is held in a former factory once dedicated to producing Kurotomo, a type of Nishijin textile woven exclusively for black mourning obi. Characterized by its complete use of black on both sides and in its patterns, kurotomo embodies a textile culture deeply connected to rituals of death and transition. The wooden structure of the building, preserved largely in its original Meiji-period form, is supported by high ceilings and thick beams, with earthen walls, skylights, and tataki floors bearing layers of accumulated time.

Within this space, Rei Kuroda presents photographic and video works centered on the themes of circulation and post-anthropocentrism. Rather than depicting a clearly defined world, her work turns toward a realm of shadows—where forms merge, dissolve, and continuously transform in darkness. Visibility and invisibility alternate throughout the space, drawing viewers into an experience that feels less like watching an image and more like entering the interior of a screen, or even a womb-like environment.

The dimly lit exhibition features rotating lampshades and photographs that resist immediate recognition, requiring sustained attention. Visitors encounter the space individually, allowing a slow, immersive circulation of perception and time.

In nature, fallen leaves and decaying trees become nourishment for other forms of life; death is not an end, but the beginning of another cycle. The factory that once produced textiles worn during the passage from life to death stands as a site of circulation itself. Through this exhibition, the artist invites viewers to sense the cyclical nature embedded not only in the works, but in the space itself.