From Mystery in Record Grooves to Ancient Greek Tragedy: Kenjiro Okazaki and “Anagnorisis” at Pace London

As the first week of August draws to a close, Mayfair’s art traffic is preparing for a highly intellectual and surprise-filled farewell. Japanese multidisciplinary pioneer Kenjiro Okazaki’s first solo exhibition in the UK, “Never could be any other way — anagnorisis,” has entered its final stretch at Pace London gallery on Hanover Square.

Ending on Friday, August 7, 2026, this special selection builds a fascinating mental bridge stretching from an iconic 1967 record groove to key concepts of ancient Greek philosophy.

From Record Needle to Ancient Tragedy: “Never Could Be Any Other Way”

The title of the exhibition may at first glance seem to consist of complex and distant references; however, when the two ends are joined together, Okazaki’s world of thought becomes exceptionally clear:

• The Beatles’ Hidden Loop: The sentence “Never could be any other way” is that famous phrase hidden in the infinite run-out groove loop of “A Day in the Life,” the closing track of The Beatles’ legendary 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. When the needle reaches the end of the record, this whisper—audible only to those with appropriate turntable setups—transforms into an infinite repetition.

• Aristotle’s Awakening Moment: “Anagnorisis” (ἀναγνώρισις) is the concept defined by Aristotle in his Poetics as the turning point of fate in tragedy: the moment when the character recognizes the truth, confronts the inevitable, and grasps that “things could not be any other way.”

By bringing together this most intimate and fictional detail of pop culture with Western philosophy’s most deep-rooted concept of dramaturgy, Okazaki pursues that sense of “inevitability” in the moment of an artwork’s creation and reception.

Architecture of Form and Memory: Zero Thumbnail and Beyond

Born in 1955, Kenjiro Okazaki follows a multidisciplinary practice that renders the boundaries between architectural theory, painting, sculpture, and landscape design completely permeable. This first solo exhibition at Pace London presents the artist’s productions across different scales with a flawless rhythm.

While monumental canvases and spatial sculptures stand out in the selection, the artist’s signature “Zero Thumbnail” series forms the most intimate layer of the exhibition. Placed within minimalist frames, these small-scale works question how an idea takes shape on canvas and when it reaches a point that is “so definitive it cannot assume another form.”

Frequently Asked Questions About Kenjiro Okazaki’s Pace London Exhibition

Until when and during what hours can the exhibition be visited?

The exhibition can be visited until Friday, August 7, 2026, at Pace London. The gallery is open Monday–Thursday 10:00–18:00 and Fridays 10:00–16:00.

Is admission charged?

No, admission to the exhibition is completely free.

Who is Kenjiro Okazaki?

A Japanese artist, architect, and theorist born in 1955. Known for practices bringing together painting, sculpture, and architectural theory, the artist is one of the most intellectual figures in Japanese contemporary art.

NO-26 Editor’s Art Route Note

With only 9 days left until closing, if you are on the Mayfair side, you have a great excuse to stop by Hanover Square. Bringing together Aristotle’s theory of tragedy and The Beatles’ record needle under the same conceptual roof, this exhibition is an exceptionally refined stop to refresh your mind and get lost in the depths of Japanese minimalism. You can pair it with the Flowers Gallery (Cork Street) exhibition in the side street to create a wonderful Mayfair route!