Parfums Christian Dior is supporting a solo exhibition by Japanese artist Momo Nakagawa as part of KG+, the satellite program of KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival. Titled Clonal Images, the exhibition runs from April 18 to May 17, 2026, at HOSOO LOUNGE, located within the HOSOO Flagship Store in Kyoto.

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The presentation forms part of Dior’s ongoing commitment to emerging artists. Nakagawa was selected as a finalist for the 2025 Dior Photography and Visual Arts Award for Young Talents in Arles, for her installation series Inside my Pantropy.

Expanding Photography into Space

Nakagawa’s practice exists at the intersection of photography, sculpture, and installation. Clonal Images is conceived around the concept of “pantropy,” a science-fiction idea describing the transformation of the body in order to adapt to new environments.

Drawing further from the biology of clonal plants, Nakagawa envisions a system in which fragments reproduce autonomously, forming interconnected ecosystems rather than isolated entities.

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Within the space, large-scale clonal images unfold across the walls, accompanied by membrane-like elements that seem to breathe within the environment. Organic and inorganic, botanical and artificial—these boundaries dissolve, allowing the work to emerge as a constantly shifting presence rather than a fixed form.

The Choice of Baker-Miller Pink

A defining element of the exhibition is its pervasive pale pink tone.

According to Nakagawa, the color is “Baker-Miller Pink,” a hue historically used in institutional environments in Switzerland, Germany, and the United States for its reported ability to reduce aggression and calm emotional states.

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While often associated with comfort and softness, the color also carries undertones of control. Within the context of the exhibition, it subtly frames the relationship between the body and its surrounding environment.

Repetition by Hand

At the core of the installation are elongated strips of photographic paper, cut into narrow, ribbon-like forms. Suspended throughout the space, these elements introduce a sculptural dimension, creating layers and depth. Despite their precise and almost mechanical appearance, each strip has been cut by hand.

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This manual repetition introduces a tension between the organic and the constructed—an essential aspect of Nakagawa’s exploration of reproduction and proliferation.

A Space That Shifts with the Viewer

The exhibition space itself is relatively compact. However, its use of curved walls and mirrored surfaces expands the visual experience. What is seen while standing differs from what appears when crouching—reflections distort, multiply, and transform the imagery. Patterns applied to the floor and the suspended strips further amplify the spatial depth, drawing the viewer’s body into the work.

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Within the Context of Kyoto

KG+ serves as an open platform where selected artists present exhibitions throughout the city of Kyoto. In dialogue with the city’s architecture and cultural landscape, these dispersed exhibitions transform Kyoto itself into a layered field of artistic encounters.

Within this context, Nakagawa’s work occupies a distinctive position. Supported by Dior, the exhibition is curated by South African photographer Lebohang Kganye, whose perspective introduces a new reading of themes Nakagawa has consistently explored.

Images in Constant Transformation

Clonal Images resists the notion of a static artwork. Instead, it exists as a living system—expanding, mutating, and reconfiguring itself through space and perception.

While rooted in photography, Nakagawa’s practice pushes beyond the medium’s conventional boundaries, suggesting new possibilities for visual expression in the contemporary moment.