The Omishima Art Museum in Imabari, Ehime will host a special exhibition titled "Goen" by internationally acclaimed sculptor Julien Signolet, running from Thursday, August 13 to Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
A Special Exhibition Born from an Encounter with the Island
The exhibition "Goen" traces its origins to 2024, when sculptor Julien Signolet traveled from Paris to the Setouchi Shimanami region and encountered the people and nature of the islands. The works on display will be new sculptures that Julien creates during a residency on Omishima in Imabari in July 2026, using local materials such as stone from Oshima Island and wood from Omishima.
These works are not self-contained objects but are conceived as spatial art installations co-created with the island's residents. Through the layering of material texture, the marks of time, and human involvement, visitors can physically immerse themselves in the works and experience the invisible connections that "Goen" represents. The exhibition unfolds as a space that could only emerge from the meeting of the artist's vision and the island's character.
Exhibition Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Thursday, August 13 – Wednesday, September 23, 2026 |
| Venue | Omishima Art Museum, 9099-1 Miyaura, Omishima-cho, Imabari, Ehime 794-1304 |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed every Monday; if a Monday falls on a public holiday, the museum is generally closed the following day) |
Exhibition SNS
- note: https://note.com/omishima_art
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omishima_specialexhibition/
SNS updates include stories about how Julien came to hold the exhibition on Omishima, interviews with Julien, and interviews with island residents connected through "Goen." Information on open studio dates and workshops will also be shared there.
About Julien Signolet
Website: https://www.signolet.net/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/signolet_sculpteur/
Since 2007, Julien has worked from his studio in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, engaging in dialogue with a wide range of materials from wood to stone, and creating works centered on the theme of spirituality bridging East and West.
He holds regular exhibitions at the Nichido Gallery in Paris. In recent years, his practice has expanded into installations that engage the entire exhibition space.
As part of Paris Nuit Blanche (Paris White Night Festival), he created and exhibited works at Église Saint-Séverin (2020) and Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles (2021). His large-scale installation at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris (2023) drew 10,000 visitors over two months.
At the international contemporary art festival BIWAKOビエンナーレ in autumn 2025, he created an installation in the Important Cultural Property "Former Nishikawa Residence."
Major activities in Japan:
- Institut français du Kansai (2013)
- K's Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo (2020)
- Contemporary art festival "Art Islands Tokyo" (2019 and 2020)
- Yamazoe Tenkodo, Gion, Kyoto (2022 and 2025)
- BIWAKOビエンナーレ (Omihachiman, Shiga Prefecture — 2022 and 2025)
About Omishima Art Museum
Website: https://www.city.imabari.ehime.jp/museum/omishima/
The Omishima Art Museum operates under the principle of being "a museum that grows alongside its artists." Its collection centers on early works by mid-career and popular Japanese painters, including pieces by Imabari-born artist Keisuke Chinai, as well as sketches and preparatory drawings by Toshio Tabuchi, totaling over 1,000 works. The museum also holds a collection of high-quality ukiyo-e prints. Works are presented through several rotations per year alongside special exhibitions developed in collaboration with featured artists.
