Zai Nomura "Today, is the day"
parcel
Starts 4/19
SHARE
Artists
Zai Nomura
parcel is pleased to present Today, is the day, a solo exhibition by Zai Nomura.
Nomura’s works transcend genres, spanning sculpture, photography, mechanical devices, and performance. By combining materials with distinct characteristics, he seeks to make visible the lingering presence of those who have passed, capturing both the fleeting and undeniable nature of life. His works convey the conflicting emotions of distress for absence and the preciousness of existence. The materials he employs—constantly flowing water, delicate translucent paper, and the subtle relief of glass visible only in light—are inherently fragile and ever-changing. To preserve these transient forms, he employs various digital technologies and mechanical systems, allowing the works to sustain their form as if by miracle.
At the heart of this exhibition is the new “Today” series, a collection of video works displayed on seven LED monitors. These works capture moments from the present day, documented through live footage from CCTV cameras still in operation around the world. Though these moments will never repeat, Nomura observes diverse scenes from across the globe via his computer screen, carefully recording them as if searching for connections between them and himself. Some of the works feature the artist’s own reactions—spoken commentary or musical performances—while others remain silent. Through these pieces, Nomura continually affirms the existence of people living in the present moment, confronting the irretrievable nature of time. He describes this series as a diary—a record of his encounters with the world, a meditation on fleeting moments that will never return.
Beyond the video content itself, the medium of display represents a crucial role in the artwork. Using matrix LED monitors housed within semi-transparent acrylic structures, Nomura exposes their internal mechanisms, emphasizing the materiality of the screen as an object. He also challenges the notion of “irreversible time.” In exhibitions, video works are often played in loops, eroding the uniqueness of a moment. To counter this, Nomura has installed a playback counter on the monitor’s side, tracking the number of times each video has been played. While the footage repeats, the count accumulates—serving as a physical reminder of the irreplaceable nature of today and the passage of time. This sculptural intervention functions as an attempt to reclaim the traces of lost bodies, reactivating remnants of past lives to reaffirm their presence.
A particularly significant aspect of this work is its critical engagement with the evolution of the video medium and its impact on our perception. In the past, cameras were physical devices that captured light and burned images onto film or photosensitive materials. Today, the most familiar cameras are embedded within smartphones, transforming photography and video into not only a means of recording but also fleeting elements of an overwhelming stream of digital information—consumed and forgotten. Nomura’s decision to use a smartphone as his primary tool for this series raises questions about the role of cameras in the digital age and the fundamental nature of recorded imagery. As he witnesses countless landscapes and people through screens, he focuses his attention on the existence of the individuals captured within them. Through this process, the work reveals the ephemerality and universality of human presence—an accumulation of anonymous gazes that form a fragile yet persistent record of life.
As Nomura’s first solo exhibition at parcel, this show presents a continuation of his past explorations while pointing toward new directions in his practice. Having long navigated the boundary between photography and sculpture, his engagement with video introduces a different sense of time and a new approach to documentation. More than a simple video experience, this exhibition invites viewers to reconsider the meanings of seeing, existing, and remembering.
We warmly invite you to the opening reception on Friday, April 18, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, where the artist will be in attendance. We look forward to your visit.
Nomura’s works transcend genres, spanning sculpture, photography, mechanical devices, and performance. By combining materials with distinct characteristics, he seeks to make visible the lingering presence of those who have passed, capturing both the fleeting and undeniable nature of life. His works convey the conflicting emotions of distress for absence and the preciousness of existence. The materials he employs—constantly flowing water, delicate translucent paper, and the subtle relief of glass visible only in light—are inherently fragile and ever-changing. To preserve these transient forms, he employs various digital technologies and mechanical systems, allowing the works to sustain their form as if by miracle.
At the heart of this exhibition is the new “Today” series, a collection of video works displayed on seven LED monitors. These works capture moments from the present day, documented through live footage from CCTV cameras still in operation around the world. Though these moments will never repeat, Nomura observes diverse scenes from across the globe via his computer screen, carefully recording them as if searching for connections between them and himself. Some of the works feature the artist’s own reactions—spoken commentary or musical performances—while others remain silent. Through these pieces, Nomura continually affirms the existence of people living in the present moment, confronting the irretrievable nature of time. He describes this series as a diary—a record of his encounters with the world, a meditation on fleeting moments that will never return.
Beyond the video content itself, the medium of display represents a crucial role in the artwork. Using matrix LED monitors housed within semi-transparent acrylic structures, Nomura exposes their internal mechanisms, emphasizing the materiality of the screen as an object. He also challenges the notion of “irreversible time.” In exhibitions, video works are often played in loops, eroding the uniqueness of a moment. To counter this, Nomura has installed a playback counter on the monitor’s side, tracking the number of times each video has been played. While the footage repeats, the count accumulates—serving as a physical reminder of the irreplaceable nature of today and the passage of time. This sculptural intervention functions as an attempt to reclaim the traces of lost bodies, reactivating remnants of past lives to reaffirm their presence.
A particularly significant aspect of this work is its critical engagement with the evolution of the video medium and its impact on our perception. In the past, cameras were physical devices that captured light and burned images onto film or photosensitive materials. Today, the most familiar cameras are embedded within smartphones, transforming photography and video into not only a means of recording but also fleeting elements of an overwhelming stream of digital information—consumed and forgotten. Nomura’s decision to use a smartphone as his primary tool for this series raises questions about the role of cameras in the digital age and the fundamental nature of recorded imagery. As he witnesses countless landscapes and people through screens, he focuses his attention on the existence of the individuals captured within them. Through this process, the work reveals the ephemerality and universality of human presence—an accumulation of anonymous gazes that form a fragile yet persistent record of life.
As Nomura’s first solo exhibition at parcel, this show presents a continuation of his past explorations while pointing toward new directions in his practice. Having long navigated the boundary between photography and sculpture, his engagement with video introduces a different sense of time and a new approach to documentation. More than a simple video experience, this exhibition invites viewers to reconsider the meanings of seeing, existing, and remembering.
We warmly invite you to the opening reception on Friday, April 18, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, where the artist will be in attendance. We look forward to your visit.
Schedule | Apr 19 (Sat) 2025-Jun 1 (Sun) 2025 Opening Hours Information
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | Free | ||||
| Website | https://parceltokyo.jp/exhibition/today-is-the-day/ | ||||
| Venue | parcel http://parceltokyo.jp/ | ||||
| Location | 2F Maruka Bldg., 2-2-14 Nihombashi, Bakurocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0002 | ||||
| Access | 3 minute walk from exit C4 at Bakurocho Station on the JR Sobu line, 4 minute walk from exit A2 at Asakusa-bashi Station on the Toei Asakusa line, 8 minute walk from the East exit of Asakusa-bashi Station on the JR Chuo Sobu line, 13 minute walk from the Showadori exit of JR Akihabara Station. | ||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it     |
Back to Articles
SHARE
No comments yet