All About Plants : Arisa Nakabayashi, Namu Choi, Miro Kim 

Alpha Contemporary is proud to present 「All About Plants : Arisa Nakabayashi, Namu Choi, Miro Kim」from May 17 to May 17, 2025.​

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This exhibition features works on the theme of plants from the unique perspectives of three female artists from Korea and Japan.

All About Plants,” in which the three artists explore different attitudes and techniques, presents works that make us discover the plants around us from different perspectives, metaphorize life through the persona of a plant that reacts to its environment, and use nature to view the human psyche in various spectrums.
 

Arisa Nakabayashi (Japanese b.1992) employs plant motifs to reflect on human societal issues. Her works often depict plants in unnatural situations—such as street trees with unnaturally cut branches or flora classified as invasive due to human standards—to symbolize the constraints and classifications imposed by society. By adopting the perspective of these plants, Nakabayashi invites viewers to empathize with the suppressed and afflicted aspects of our social structures.

Her technique is characterized by quick brushstrokes and bold, bleeding colors, creating multi-layered landscapes that blend partial and holistic perspectives. This approach fosters a dialogue between the observer and the observed, enhancing the immersive experience of her artwork.

Nakabayashi graduated from Tama Art University in 2017 with a degree in oil painting. She has been actively exhibiting in Tokyo, including her solo exhibition "Project N 96" at the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery from October 3 to December 17, 2024.

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Namu Choi (Korean, b.1976) is a Korean-born artist based in Tokyo. Her work captures the psychological landscapes of humans responding to environmental changes, using plant imagery as a metaphor. Choi's paintings delve into themes of isolation, anxiety, and longing, juxtaposed with a strong sense of affirmation. Through her unique use of primary colors and dynamic compositions, she portrays plants with various personas—inside and outside, stillness and movement, beneficial and toxic—to mirror the complexities of human inner life.

 

Choi graduated from Seoul National University of Art in 2001 with a BFA in Western painting, and from Seoul National University Graduate School of Art in 2004 with Master's degree in printmaking from the Department of Western Painting. Nam Choi graduated from Seoul National University Graduate School of Art in 2001 with a BFA in Western painting, and from Seoul National University Graduate School of Art in 2004 with Master's degree in printmaking from the Department of Western Painting, Seoul National University. She is currently based in Tokyo, and has participated in solo exhibitions and art fairs in Seoul, Tokyo, New York, and San Francisco, and has been actively engaged in her art activities. She is also expanding her field of activities, as evidenced by the worldwide success of the much-talked-about Netflix film “The Frog” in 2024, in which she teamed up.


 

Miro Kim (Korean, b.1975) is known for her intricate collage-based printmaking. She combines techniques such as etching, drypoint, and silkscreen to create layered compositions that explore the interplay of multiple perspectives. By overlaying various images, she captures the phenomenon of intersecting viewpoints, presenting a painterly expression of objects observed from different angles.

In her recent exhibition, Kim focuses on plant motifs commonly found in everyday life. Through these botanical subjects, she delves into personal memories, experiences, and fluctuating psychological states, conveying them in a complex, delicate, and sensual manner.

 

Kim earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking from Hongik University's College of Fine Arts in 2001 and completed her Master of Fine Arts in Printmaking at Seoul National University in 2003. She has held solo exhibitions in cities including Seoul, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. In 2012, she was awarded the Gold Prize at the inaugural Etro Art Awards.

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CV Download

Arisa Nakabayashi (JPN)

Namu Choi (ENG)

Miro Kim (ENG)

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