Between revision and restraint, the Japanese artist reflects on process, patience, and the quiet evolution of an iconic character.
A New Chapter in Hong Kong
Japanese contemporary artist TIDE has opened his first solo exhibition in Hong Kong with EDIT, bringing his restrained, monochromatic universe to the city for the first time. The exhibition unfolds across two creative spaces, with a primary presentation at WKM Gallery and a parallel takeover of BELOWGROUND. Together, the dual venues frame a pivotal moment for TIDE, whose wide eyed cat figure has become a subtle emblem of domestic scenes and childhood memory.
Rethinking Process and Permanence
EDIT marks a shift in how TIDE approaches painting. Rather than working toward immediate completion, the artist now revisits canvases over long stretches of time, repeatedly erasing and redrawing elements. This method builds what he describes as a hidden history within each work, where earlier decisions remain buried beneath the surface. The result is a quieter depth, one shaped as much by absence and restraint as by visible form.
The Cat as Constant and Question
In conversation with Hypebeast, TIDE reflects on his evolving relationship with the cat character that has followed him throughout his career. While the figure remains present, EDIT reframes its role, less as a fixed symbol and more as a point of ongoing inquiry. Speaking alongside William Kayne Mukai of WKM Gallery, the artist describes the exhibition title as both a process and a mindset, one that embraces revision as a creative act and allows meaning to emerge through time rather than immediacy.
