introduction We are pleased to present "Nomata Minoru: Architecture on Canvas," an exhibition of the work of one of the important artists represented in our collection. Nomata was born in Tokyo in 1955 and studied design at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. He constructed a unique artistic world in his paintings of imaginary buildings that is called "fantasy architecture." He paints buildings standing quietly in natural settings with no human figures present. They exude a sense of deja vu even though they do not exist in reality. The severe precision of these paintings gives these fantasy buildings a strong sense of presence, revealing the artist's predilection for the mechanical forms of modern industry. The exquisite draftsmanship and unique formal imagination of these paintings produces strong, ebullient architectural forms that transcend real time and space. Nomata has held many solo exhibitions mainly in Tokyo, beginning the one in Sagacho Exhibit Space in 1986, and has been spotlighted in a number of solo museum shows since 1995. The works in this exhibition, taken mainly from our collection, represent all of his major series, from Still (1986) to Points of View (2004). We believe that it will provide viewers with an excellent opportunity to savor Nomata's sublime vision that fuses painting with architecture. Copyright (c) 2004 Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation