NANZUKA Underground is presenting “See-Through”, a solo exhibition of new works by Shanghai-born, New York-based artist Stickymonger. This marks the artist’s first solo show at the gallery’s main space and delicately depicts moments where everyday objects and surreal scenes intersect, giving rise to humour and introspection.
A Fusion of Surrealism and Street Art
Stickymonger’s practice effortlessly blends opposing elements: reality and imagination, innocence and horror, to explore the depths of human emotion. She draws inspiration from the Surrealist movement, films spanning the late 1970s to the 1990s, and Japanese manga and anime. These cultural references infuse her work with both contemporary energy and nostalgic depth.
Technical Innovation: “Spray Painterly”
Stickymonger is recognised for transforming spray paint, a tool traditionally associated with street art and graffiti, into a legitimate contemporary fine-art medium. She pushes the technique far beyond mere surface coverage with a uniquely experimental approach:
- Pressure Manipulation: By altering the spray paint’s pressure, she creates unpredictable lines, splatters, and textures.
- Layering and Blending: Mixing water- and solvent-based sprays, she draws inspiration from Renaissance oil-painting layering techniques and Gerhard Richter’s surface-scraping methods.
The artist calls this experimental, hybrid method “Spray Painterly”. The term reflects her distinctive process, which brings depth, complexity, and a classical painterly sensitivity to spray-paint application.
The title “See-Through” carries a mysterious meaning that sparks Stickymonger’s imagination, and the exhibition revolves around this theme, uniting 21 new spray-paint paintings.
Exhibition Details
Artist: Stickymonger
Exhibition Title: “See-Through”
Venue: NANZUKA Underground, Tokyo
Dates: 22 November 2025 – 27 December 2025
