Questioning the Uncertainty of the Visible World | Mieko Demura × Misuzu Shibuya “Unraveling Vision”

Through what do we see the world? And is what we believe we see truly as it is?

Starting on August 23, 2026, at Feel Records Kyoto Hanare “Gallery Nikai,” the exhibition “Unraveling Vision” features artist Mieko Demura and photographer Misuzu Shibuya, who each question “what is visible” in their respective styles.

The uncertainty of seeing, and the differences in perception that arise between ourselves and others. We explore the vision of these two artists as they tackle this theme.

Quietly Prompting Thought in the Viewer — Mieko Demura’s Origins and Expression

Please introduce yourself.

My name is Mieko Demura. After being involved in weaving kimono and obi at a Yuki Tsumugi  workshop, I studied dyeing and weaving at Kyoto University of the Arts to explore my own expression.

In 2005, I began creating translucent works using ultrafine fibers. In recent years, going beyond the boundaries of materials and techniques, I have been creating works centered on the theme of how human beings view the world.

Could you tell us about the artists or works that have influenced you?

I am drawn to expressions that do not say too much, but quietly prompt thought in the viewer. The origin of this was the textile artist Fukumi Shimura. I was captivated by the beauty of the colors in the kimono and obi she created using threads dyed with natural dyes.

Later, as my work evolved toward tapestries and installations, I became strongly attracted to the works of Mark Rothko, Lee Ufan, and Rei Naito, who create rich margins with minimal elements. I have also drawn much inspiration from the works of artists such as Aiko Miyanaga, Akiko Ikeuchi, and Yasuko Iba.

What are you expressing through your work?

I continually question what kind of experience it is to “see what is there.” As a way to explore this question, I have used translucent materials. Through my work, I wish to quietly demonstrate the uncertainty of what we believe we see.

What Lies Beyond Unraveled Preconceptions

How do you express the exhibition theme, “What Is Visible”?

I liken a thin fabric made of stretched silk wadding to the preconceptions people hold when looking at the world. In this exhibition, I hope visitors will observe how its appearance changes with the light, air, and distance as they move in front of the artwork. Through those changes, I would be glad if you could turn your awareness to how you yourself view the world.

What does expression mean to you, Ms. Demura?

For me, expression is finding the next question through a work.

Once a work is completed, the next question arises immediately. Using the world that emerges while sharpening my five senses as a guide, I continue creating work and connect that question to the next piece. I feel that such creative practice is an endeavor akin to Zen dialogue.

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Giving Form to Ambiguous Sensations — Misuzu Shibuya’s Origins and Expression

Please introduce yourself.

My name is Misuzu Shibuya, and I am a photographer. While working as a commercial photographer based in Osaka, I also create and exhibit my own artwork as an artist.

I originally studied graphic design, but after discovering the fascination of photography, I became an assistant at a photo studio to acquire technical skills. Through that experience, I began working as a photographer, and since 2016, I have also embarked on my path as an artist.

Could you tell us about the artists or works that have influenced you?

The artist I encountered as a student who left a particularly strong impact on me was Miwa Yanagi. When I saw her photobook My Grandmothers, I was moved by how a single photograph could contain such rich narrative and time. I was strongly drawn to her narrative and immersive style of expression—creating scenes that do not exist in reality, yet allow viewers to imagine the subject’s life and project themselves onto the work.

I was also greatly influenced by the underwater photography of Tomohide Ikeya, whose work I used to view on his website during my student days. I was fascinated by the beauty of movement, light, and sense of floating that can only exist underwater, and about ten years later, I began creating works using water myself. Since starting my career as a photographer, Mr. Ikeya has taught me many things about art-making and photography.

In addition to photography, I also enjoy looking at paintings, and am particularly drawn to the works of Shoen Uemura and Kaii Higashiyama. I love the dignified beauty within their quietness, and how they evoke a somewhat spiritual world while depicting reality.

Touching things I genuinely consider beautiful—whether beautiful stories, photographs, or paintings—soothes my mind. For me, I believe that is the greatest joy of appreciating art, as well as one of the origins of my creative work.

What are you expressing through your work?

What I express in my work are emotions that cannot be easily explained in words, as well as feelings of discord or discomfort felt in daily life. Through the female body and narratives, I express the various emotions that coexist within myself—not only longing and beauty, but also the conflict, jealousy, and gap between ideal and reality behind them.

Although the person captured in the photograph is right in front of me, my own memories, emotions, and way of seeing are layered onto the image. I believe that creating artwork means leaving the ambiguous sensations within myself as a visible form.

New Endeavors Beyond the Framework of Photography

How do you express the exhibition theme, “What Is Visible”?

In addition to past photographic works, this exhibition features pieces using techniques that are challenging for me as well—such as layering mineral pigments and natural stones over photographs, or enclosing photographs inside boxes with ultra-thin washi paper to deliberately obscure the photographs themselves.

Embedded in these works are questions such as “Is what we see right in front of us truly correct?” and “Where does the answer lie?”, along with the concept of duality—the idea that conflicting aspects coexist simultaneously within a single thing.

I love photography as a form of expression, but this is the first time I have expanded my work beyond a flat, two-dimensional surface to incorporate different materials and spatial elements. For those who are already familiar with my work, I especially hope they will observe these changes and new endeavors.

What does expression mean to you, Ms. Shibuya?

For me, expression is a way to connect myself with the world.

Emotions and thoughts that cannot be fully conveyed in words can be delivered to or shared with others by turning them into artwork through the camera. Furthermore, through my work, I can meet people and encounter sensations and ways of thinking different from my own.

I usually spend a lot of time alone, and I am the type of person who often spends days off without talking to people much. That is why I always feel truly grateful that, both in my commercial work and my artistic practice, I can connect with people and the world through my camera and artwork. Expression is an essential means for me to interact with the outside world.

Mieko Demura × Misuzu Shibuya “Unraveling Vision”

Dates: August 23 (Sun) – August 30 (Sun), 2026
Hours: 10:00 – 18:00
*Closed on August 24 (Mon) and August 25 (Tue)
Admission: Free
Mieko Demura Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mieko_demura/
Misuzu Shibuya Official Website: https://www.shibuyamisuzu.com/#1