05/07/2026
MOTOKI TAKENAKA
a.k.a SNEAKERWOLF solo exhibition
”All you need is LOVE”
2026.7.4〜9.6
SAT-SUN 12:00-20:00
MON-FRI Apointment only
Sneakerwolf (MOTOKI TAKENAKA) presents new works that take as their point of departure an homage to Robert Indiana’s iconic “LOVE.”
This exhibition is inspired by Indiana’s seminal “LOVE” works. His practice, which traverses the boundaries between language and image, as well as popular culture and fine art, serves as a key point of departure for this body of work.
Sneakerwolf approaches this motif through a unique perspective grounded in traditional Japanese Edo-period lettering (Edo-moji).
Originally rooted in popular and commercial contexts, Edo-moji is characterized by its decorative forms and rhythmic qualities, as well as a sensibility that treats text not only as something to be read, but as something to be seen. It can be regarded as one of the earliest forms of what might be called proto-graffiti.
By reinterpreting this perspective through the visual language of contemporary graffiti and repositioning it within the context of contemporary art, the work gently destabilizes binary oppositions such as East and West, tradition and innovation, High and Low. This ongoing traversal of boundaries constitutes a central principle in Sneakerwolf’s practice.
In this exhibition, Sneakerwolf employs his distinctive method of reconstructing the alphabet through the structural logic of kanji, reconfiguring the word “LOVE.” Here, “LOVE” is no longer presented as a word to be read, but as a visual structure that undergoes continuous processes of deconstruction and reconstruction.
Artist’s Comment
There is not enough love in the world.
No matter how much artists, musicians, or films speak about love, conflict and discrimination do not disappear.
I don’t believe that what I say will necessarily change anything, but I feel it is important to express my intent.
dedicated to Robert Indiana.