タイトル

Yu Uchida Solo Exhibition "POP-UP COUNTER" | A Pop Rejoinder to Consumer Society
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Contemporary artist Yu Uchida returns to Gallery Seek with a sharp, playful solo exhibition that conceals a social counter-argument inside its gleaming, candy-colored exterior.
Opening June 5 (Fri) through June 13 (Fri), "POP-UP COUNTER" takes place at Gallery Seek, Caretta Shiodome B1F.

The Double Meaning of "POP-UP COUNTER"

The title carries Uchida's signature wordplay. "POP-UP" evokes the excitement of a limited-time shop, while also capturing the effervescent pop of sparkling drinks. "COUNTER" refers both to the bar counter where drinks are served and to a social counter-argument — a rejoinder aimed at mass consumerism and environmental destruction. Beneath the colorful collaboration lies an intellectual twist: a critique wrapped in pop aesthetics.

The cool it Series: Social Critique in a Sweet Wrapper

A graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts (glass casting), Uchida deepened his conceptual approach during studies in the UK. His signature cool it series renders the polar bear — icon of climate change — as a melting ice pop cast in glass. Packaged in Japan's irresistibly "kawaii" design language, the work exposes the contradiction of a society that knows the harm but cannot stop consuming.

Special Event: Le café Sparkling Pairing Experience (June 5–6 only)

Sponsored by HARUNA, guests can taste "Le café Sparkling" in an original cup designed by Uchida himself — paired with:
· Green tea sparkling × rice crackers
· Black tea sparkling × cookies, pastries, cheese
Sip, look, and feel the counter-argument.
Exhibition: Yu Uchida Solo Exhibition "POP-UP COUNTER"
Dates: June 5 – 13, 2026
Venue: Gallery Seek, Caretta Shiodome B1F, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Admission: Free
Supported by: HARUNA