Naoki Sato: There, It Has Grown.

Naoki Sato worked as a graphic designer before shifting his focus to drawing in 2013. The charcoal drawing he began the following year, titled Late of “There, It Has Grown.” was created by horizontally connecting large plywood panels. After being exhibited in various venues, it now exceeds 300 meters in length. This exhibition will feature both the display of this work and public creation session of his creative process across two adjacent venues. Sato’s life’s work, accumulated over twelve years of time, will proliferate within the cityscape of towering skyscrapers.

Sponsor: Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.

Venue ① Gyoko-dori Underground Gallery

“There, It Has Grown. 2018–2025” (Exhibition)

Approximately 202 meters (221 wooden panels) drawn after 2018 are displayed in this exhibition of Late of “There, It Has Grown.” (2014-). Additionally, ceramic sculptures created starting in 2025 are arranged in front of the drawings, while another set of ceramics painted in acrylic are directly layered over the charcoal pieces. Sato’s 2013 work, First “There, It Has Grown.” began abruptly while walking around Kanda Nishiki-cho, when he decided, “Well, I’ll try drawing the plants I saw here today.” Regarding this practice, which has continued and evolved over the past 12 years, Sato himself states, “I’d like to leave its interpretation up to the viewer.”

Venue ② Otemachi Park Building, 1F Entrance

“There, It Has Grown. 2025–” (Public Creation)

The panels beyond the 369th of Late of “There, It Has Grown.” will be created publicly. Just as the way this work began, these drawings will also start with walking around the surrounding area. Sato states, “Before Otemachi became a district of office buildings, samurai residences were spread throughout the area, but before that, it was a wetland thick with reeds and rushes. I want to find traces of that landscape in the area, as if envisioning it.” Moreover, panels 1–147, created prior to the portion currently on view at the Gyoko-dori Underground Gallery (2018–2025), will also be presented at another venue.