Shimpei Yoshida - The Poetices of Silence im Studio in der Kunsthalle Mannheim 04.09-23.11.2025

Since September 4, the Kunsthalle Mannheim Studio has been presenting the solo exhibition “The Poetics of Silence” by Shimpei Yoshida (b. 1992, lives in Tokyo), curated by Dr. Stefano Agresti.

Yoshida’s painting keeps its distance from loud messages and spectacular staging. Its strength lies in a quiet presence that unfolds through the gentle appearance of his figures. We often see backs turned or faces whose features blur, so that no clear gaze emerges – and yet these images evoke memories and sensations, leaving behind an unexpected intimacy and a poetic resonance. Light plays a crucial role here, inviting viewers into an intimate dialogue with the paintings.

The newspaper Die Rheinpfalz (Sigfrid Feeser) described Yoshida’s works as “paintings that are silent and yet speak.” Blurred contours and fragmentary details give them a mysterious aura, opening up new dimensions with each glance – like doors that softly open onto an unexpected world of art.

Starting from a discovered family album, the artist creates imaginary figures in which “presence and absence,” “proximity and distance,” “appearance and disappearance” enter into resonance with one another.

In 2019, Yoshida worked as an artist-in-residence at FRISE Künstlerhaus in Hamburg, and in 2021 he presented a solo exhibition at Mikiko Sato Gallery. His painting, rooted in both Eastern and Western traditions, explores the themes of “silence” and “absence,” asserting a quiet yet powerful presence in contemporary art.

The exhibition “The Poetics of Silence” is on view at Kunsthalle Mannheim until November 23. A publication has been released to accompany the show.