Editor’s Note
This piece highlights the collaborative exhibition “METAMORPHOSES” at Gallery Kōtō in Kanda, running through August 2. Curated by director Risako Hayashi, the show pairs painter Mariko Enomoto’s works with made-to-order pieces from accessory brand KÄSI, inspired by Ovid’s mythological transformations.
Gallery “Kōtō” in Kanda is hosting the exhibition “METAMORPHOSES” until August 2. The venue features made-to-order sales from accessory brand “KÄSI” alongside works by painter Mariko Enomoto.
The exhibition was conceived by Kōtō director Risako Hayashi, who sensed a shared worldview between the two artists’ works. The title “METAMORPHOSES” is derived from the ancient Roman poet Ovid’s mythological collection “Metamorphoses.” Drawing parallels to tales of humans transforming into animals, plants, and jewels, the exhibition aims to express inner desires and longings for change through KÄSI’s handcrafted accessories and Enomoto’s paintings.
KÄSI was founded in 2011 by designer Kanako Atsumi. The brand name means “hand” in Finnish, and the designer started creating pieces self-taught out of a pure impulse to “just keep making.” All works are hand-finished, primarily using natural woods such as birch, maple, katsura, and oak. By leveraging the unique color, grain, and scent of each wood, and combining them with different materials like natural stones, shells, pearls, and porcelain, KÄSI proposes items that evoke a sense of nature’s fluctuations.
At the venue, a total of 42 pieces are available for made-to-order, including ribbon-motif rings inspired by Enomoto’s works, animal-shaped accessories carved from wood, and necklaces incorporating horse mane and tail hair—all highlighting the natural expressions of the materials. Additionally, magnetic rings (9,900–11,000 yen) and hand-shaped objects (19,800 yen) are on sale.
Mariko Enomoto is a painter who primarily creates faceless portrait works. She has previously provided cover illustrations for the novel “Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982” (by Cho Nam-joo) and the Yomiuri Shimbun serialized novel “Yellow House” (by Mieko Kawakami).
At this exhibition, she presents her new series “ANINORMAL,” which projects onto animals the emotion of wanting to transform into a distant object of longing. Beginning with the phrase “A horse longing for flowers. A bird dreaming of the sky,” the series depicts creatures drawn to something they lack and undergoing transformation, expressing inexplicable yearnings and the desire to move from one place to another through the forms of animals.
◾️KÄSI & Mariko Enomoto “METAMORPHOSES”
Duration: July 16 (Thu) – August 2 (Sun), 2026 (Closed Mon, Tue, Wed)
Venue: Kōtō
Location: Kanda Building 3F, 4-5 Kanda Nishifukudacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Thu & Fri 13:00–19:00, Sat & Sun 12:00–18:00