Shigeru Onishi

This exhibition is made possible by the Japan Foundation.

Foam is supported by the VriendenLoterij, Foam Members, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, the VandenEnde Foundation and the City of Amsterdam.

In 2021 Foam receives additional support from the Mondriaan Fund and Kickstart Cultuurfonds.

Foam proudly presents the first European solo exhibition of the Japanese mathematician and artist Shigeru Onishi. It is the first time that his photographic oeuvre is shown in Europe, giving the artist a deserved place in the history of photography.

 shows the forgotten photographic oeuvre of Shigeru Onishi (1928 - 1994). After graduating in topology (branch of mathematics) from Hokkaido University in 1953, the artist began to apply his mathematical theories to photography. Although his theories are fairly complex, they have produced a unique body of work that distanced him from other movements and ideas in Japanese photography of his time.

The Flicker Phase, 1950

Foam

Title unknown, 1950s 

The Flicker Phase, 1950s

Title unknown, 1950s

Shigeru Onishi - The Possibility of Existence, 2021

Shigeru Onishi - The Possibility of Existence

On Thursday 18 November, we invite you to join the curator tour of 

 by Shigeru Onishi. In the tour, Foam curator Mirjam Kooiman will take you through the first European solo presentation of this striking series.

Opening Shigeru Onishi and Alexandra Rose Howland, 2021

Exhibition tour: Shigeru Onishi - The Possibility of Existence

On 9 December, we hosted a Zoom conversation with MEM Gallery Director Katsuya Ishida and Art Critic Vicente Todolí. Together with Project Coordinator Valeria Posada, these experts will engage in a conversation about Shigeru Onishi's rare body of work, currently featured in the exhibition 

Title Unknown, 1950s

Zoom

Video still - Zooming In Shigeru Onishi

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Watch now

Zooming In: Reintroducing Shigeru Onishi's Oeuvre

Every Sunday, Foam offers free walk-in workshops inspired by the current exhibition 

Next Level: Jonathas de Andrade - Staging Resistance

The walk-in workshops at Foam are suitable for all ages. Join us on Sundays between 14.00 - 16.00 hrs.

Jogos Dirigidos (Directed Games), 2019

ABC da cana (Sugarcane ABC), 2014

Walk-in Workshop Next Level: Jonathas de Andrade

Walk-in workshop

Aby Fulani

We invited musician and producer Aby Fulani to create a playlist inspired by the works of Liz Johnson Artur. Offering a fresh way to experience the exhibition, music adds new dimensions to the essence of Liz's work, especially while museum doors are closed.

The different rooms were displayed like an assembly of different drummers and percussionists.

shigeru-onishi