Connect and expand (Crossing Borders and Expanding Fields of Expression)

Nicolas Buffe “Cartouche / Polia”
2014-16
35 x 420 x 300 cm, 3D printed Nylon, paint, industrial marker, FRP, Plywood

UESHIMA MUSEUM
“Thematic Exhibitions for Creative Encounters” Opening
～James Turrell Permanent Exhibition～

We are pleased to announce that UESHIMA MUSEUM will hold a new collection exhibition, “Thematic Exhibition for Creative Encounters,” starting from June 21, 2025 (Sat).

At the museum, visitors can explore a curated selection of contemporary art pieces from UESHIMA MUSEUM COLLECTION, a collection of over 700 works by a diverse range of domestic and international artists based on the theme of “contemporaneity” and aligned with various themes. Since its opening in June 2024, UESHIMA MUSEUM has garnered significant attention from both domestic and international media, as well as on social media platforms.
This second exhibition of the collection will be renewed under the curatorial direction of Yuko Hasegawa, who served as the director of 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa until March 2025. In addition, an installation work by James Turrell will be newly exhibited as a part of the permanent collection.
We look forward to seeing you at the museum.]

Dates

June 21, 2025 (Sat) ～

Opening Hours (Date and Time Web Ticket System)

11:00 ~ 17:00 (Last entry at 16:00)

Address : Ueshima Tower, Shibuya Kyoiku Gakuen 1-21-18 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Curator : Yuko Hasegawa

Further information :
https://ueshima-museum.com/
https://ueshima-museum.com/james/

For this collaboration with Prunier, I set out to weave an original story around this illustrious French caviar house. Founded in 1872 by Alfred Prunier, it established itself as a pioneer in the rise of caviar in France in the early 20th century, thanks to its Parisian restaurants, famous for offering “everything from the sea.”

I was particularly drawn to the artistic effervescence of Art Deco, embodied by the legendary Prunier Victor Hugo restaurant. Throughout the 20th century, this house gravitated toward the orbit of famous creators such as Poiret, Wilde, Chanel, Picasso, Diaghilev, Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent, thereby affirming its prestige in the Paris of that era.

The association of Prunier caviar with the history of the Orient Express particularly intrigued me. I saw it as a way to link the imagination of travel between Paris and Istanbul with that of the treasures of the sea.

I therefore took pleasure in adding a touch of my own personal fantasy to this collection, already rich in history.

A legend, corroborated by fishermen’s tales, tells of a queen with seaweed for hair who lives in a fabulous palace hidden at the bottom of the sea. It is also said that her palace contains a fabulous treasure. The exact location remains a mystery, as some stories place it in the Caspian Sea, while others mention the Atlantic.

I imagined this character based loosely on the anecdote of Simone Prunier’s daughter, who drew a queen with seaweed hair for the menu at Prunier Saint James in London on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1937.

The story of the queen of the sea

Saint-James, one of the caviars in the Prunier range, which is still highly prized today, was created to mark the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on May 12, 1937. On this occasion, restaurant guests were treated to a special menu illustrated by Françoise, known as Toune, the daughter of Simone Prunier and Jean Barnagaud. She depicted the queen as a young woman with dark seaweed-like hair, wearing a golden crown. Opposite the list of starters, main courses, and desserts, separated by a small blue fish, is a poem written for the occasion by the English writer and humorist Sir Alan Patrick Herbert (1890-1971). The Duchess of Kent, who came to lunch with her family the day after the coronation, slipped the menu into her bag, convinced that it would “amuse Elizabeth greatly…”

Prunier par Alléno / Une grande maison d’avant-garde / Textes de Patricia Khenoua / Glénat, 2023, p. 63

Oceanid / attendant of the sea queen

The court of the sea queen’s palace is vast. The queen has many attendants. Over the centuries, sailors and travelers have sometimes confused these attendants of the queen with mermaids.

Traveler

Paris, 1925: the Roaring Twenties were synonymous with celebration and lightheartedness in Paris, London, Berlin, New York, and Tokyo. These years also saw women break free from the social and sartorial constraints of previous decades. Women aviators, pilots, and adventurous travelers began to appear, exploring the skies and the seas.

I had fun imagining one of these characters setting off on an adventure in search of the treasure of the Queen of the Sea.

Caviar fan / Oscietra

A caviar fan enhanced with golden eggs, inspired by the Art Deco aesthetic as seen at Prunier Victor Hugo, mixed with Japanese influences.

Sturgeons and bubbles / Oscietra

Two sturgeons swim in an environment of bubbles reminiscent of champagne bubbles. The symmetry evokes a weightless broom, reminiscent of the sign of Pisces. There is also a reference to the Art Deco motifs of Prunier Victor Hugo.

Oscietra and aquatic plants

An oscietra sturgeon glides lightly over a carpet of aquatic plants. This golden surface is represented by a stylized Art Deco pattern with Japanese influences.

Two-tone eggs

Like a sparkling treasure in the darkness of a chest buried at the bottom of the ocean, this design plays with the contrast between gold and black for a special edition of black and gold caviar.

Great wave

Between Art Deco and Japanese references, I had fun drawing this great golden wave between sky and sea, bringing an asymmetrical dynamic to the regularity of the circle.

About Prunier :
prunier-caviar.com

Ginza Tokyu Plaza / GinzaNovo

Azabudai Hills

Isetan Shinjuku

Event at Ueshima Museum, Shibuya, Tokyo. Nov. 4th, 2025

Conversation aboard the express train (Traveller)

The traveller continues her journey eastward aboard the Orient Express, the legendary train connecting Paris to Istanbul. Tonight, a soft-spoken conversation takes place in the Art Deco lounge of one of the carriages.

Mountains and Hearts / Oscietra

A series of triangular geometric shapes in Art Deco style, reminiscent of mountain peaks, stand out against a starry sky background. Hearts embedded in the mountains evoke the fluctuations of emotions in the quest for feelings.

On the Grand Canal (Traveler)

There’s nothing like a stopover in Venice to take a break from the fatigue of traveling and enjoy the wonders of the City of the Doges. This short break allows for searching out important information about the legend of the Queen of the Sea.

Venetian oculi and hearts / Oscietra

The motifs refer to the façade of the Ca’ d’oro, one of Venice’s most famous palaces. This palace, built in the Italian International Gothic style, is rich in both European and Eastern influences. Hearts appear alternately in the turquoise blue oculi.

In the sleeping car corridor (Traveler)

This drawing is inspired by scenes from Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, later adapted for film by directors such as Sidney Lumet. The traveler, dressed in an elegant gown, strides swiftly down the sleeping car corridor.

Sign with polka dot and heart background / Oscietra

An art deco sign evokes the look of express trains from the Roaring Twenties. A background consisting of alternating polka dots and hearts provides a light contrast to the overall composition.

Sky and sea

“Everything that comes from the sea” has been Prunier’s slogan since 1925.

Inspired by Art Deco style, particularly that of the Prunier restaurant on Avenue Victor Hugo. 

This design depicts a starry sky and golden clouds above a sea with geometric waves. It nods to the aesthetics of Japanese lacquerware and woodblock prints.

Seahorse on a background of golden hearts

This design is a nod to the Art Deco style of Maison Prunier Victor Hugo. The seahorse figure, with its elegant hybrid form of fish and horse, evokes the astonishing richness of the marine world. I chose to depict this mysterious animal to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Horse in a maritime way. A carpet of golden hearts completes the composition for Valentine’s Day and White Day.

In the shade of a cherry tree on the Bosphorus  (Traveler)

The Orient Express arrives at its final destination, Istanbul Sirkeci train station. The traveler takes advantage of this brief transfer time before continuing her journey to enjoy the cherry blossoms.

Door and stained glass windows / Oscietra

This design is loosely based on Sirkeci Station in Istanbul, the terminus of the Orient Express. A cherry blossom motif occupies most of a stained glass window above one of the station doors. The shades of pink and green bring a springtime feel to the whole design.

On board the ferry (Traveler)

The traveler boards a ferry at sunset to continue her journey. On the horizon, we can see the silhouettes of the train station and Haydarpaşa port in Istanbul, slowly receding into the distance.

Cherry blossoms and golden tiles / Oscietra

The motifs refer to the fruit room of the famous Topkapı Palace in Istanbul. 

This sumptuous palace was the main residence of the sultan and his court during the Ottoman era. Pink and gold tile motifs punctuate the design with an effect of opulence.

Boarding the submarine (Traveler)

Following her ferry trip, the traveler approaches her goal of discovering the palace and treasures of the Queen of the Sea. In the early morning, she boards a strange submarine, reminiscent of the shape of a sturgeon. The nod to Jules Verne and his adventure novel “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” is obvious.

Cherry blossom and turquoise blue tiles / Oscietra

The patterns refer to the fruit room of the famous Topkapı Palace in Istanbul. This room, also known as Ahmet III’s private chamber, was probably used by the sultan for meals. Cherry blossom tile patterns contrast with golden coffers and a turquoise blue background.

Sturgeon submarine on a gold background

The traveler explores the seas aboard the sturgeon submarine in search of the legendary palace of the Queen of the Sea.

This design is inspired by Art Deco style, particularly that of the Prunier restaurant on Avenue Victor Hugo, Paris.

Pink flamingo against a backdrop of cherry blossoms

This design is a nod to the Art Deco style of Maison Prunier Victor Hugo. Flamingos get their color from the pink and orange crustaceans, algae, and plankton they feed on. A bird with pink plumage that lives between the air and the sea, it was the perfect choice to celebrate the cherry blossom season.

A carpet of cherry blossoms completes the composition for this occasion.

Approaching the Sea Queen’s Palace (Traveler)

Our traveler’s adventure is nearing its end. From the Sturgeon submarine, we can see the Sea Queen’s Palace sitting proudly inside what appears to be a giant transparent jellyfish floating in the ocean. How many wonders and surprises does this amazing building hold?

From a porthole on the Sturgeon submarine / Oscietra

The traveler observes the seabed from one of the portholes of the fantastic machine she has embarked on: the Sturgeon submarine. As the machine rounds a coral reef, she sees the silhouette of the sea queen’s palace in the distance.

At the foot of the Sea Queen’s Palace (Traveler)

The Sea Queen’s Palace is located inside what appears to be a gigantic jellyfish. Numerous towers, domes, staircases, and other structures evoking the riches of the sea in both form and color are bathed in brilliant light.

Tyrian purple shellfish (Bolinus brandaris) / Oscietra

From caviar to pearls, not to mention countless varieties of shellfish, the treasures of the sea are innumerable. The shellfish depicted here is called the spiny murex or murex tinctorial (Bolinus brandaris), which secretes a mucus that provided the “purple of the ancients” or Tyrian purple manufactured by the Phoenicians. Very expensive to produce, exceptionally durable, and long associated with the image of imperial power, Tyrian purple was one of the luxury products of the ancient Mediterranean world.

Oceanid guardian of the palace

An Oceanid riding a seahorse watches over the palace of the queen of the sea. The red hair of the queen’s attendant contrasts with the green armor of her mount.

The queen of the sea on her throne

In the heart of her palace, on her baroque shell-shaped throne, the queen of the sea, with her seaweed hair, watches over her kingdom, the largest in the world. The throne room is adorned with shades of purple, symbols of wealth and power.

Marine Jewel (Neptune’s Lace) / Oscietra

The treasures of the sea can take on refined and surprising forms, such as Neptune’s lace, or Venus lace, which freely inspired this design. Made up of marine animals called bryozoans, these light and ephemeral structures are constantly evolving and contribute to the richness of life in the ocean by providing a habitat for many species.

Amethyst purple shell (Hexaplex trunculus)

The shell known as Hexaplex trunculus produces a purple color with hints of violet and blue. It is called amethyst purple, a name evocative of riches buried deep in the ocean.

A carpet of multicolored shells cheerfully completes the composition for Mother’s Day.

Shortly after its creation, my “Cupid’s Menace, Version 1: Double Heart-Ray-Guns” was invited to be exhibited in the protocol lounge of the French Pavilion at the EXPO 2025 World’s Fair in Osaka.
Since the pavilion’s theme was “An Hymn to Love,” my Cupid naturally found its place there. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to display it alongside one of my primary sources of inspiration for this work, Falconet’s “L’Amour menaçant,” produced by Sèvres.

https://www.expo2025.or.jp/

https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/official-participant/france/