The first time I encountered Yu Kobayashi’s work, I was so taken aback that I nearly lost my footing. I still remember the surprise I felt upon discovering someone whose work was so unbound by economic or intellectual reasoning. I believe that humans are inherently equipped to think both with the mind and with the body. However, in today’s world, human productivity is so deeply entangled with capitalism that we are constantly consumed by the need to calculate cost-effectiveness and efficiency. It feels as though we’ve forgotten how to think with our bodies. Yu Kobayashi exists entirely within the realm of bodily thought. Each day, she moves her body deliberately, using every sense to seek out what makes her heart dance. Through her work, you can feel the energy that all humans inherently carry, flowing through each piece. There is an overwhelming sense of truth, sincerity, and strength that emanates from the very essence of being human and alive. In a way, her work is nothing more than the lingering traces of her energy. Yet, it’s impossible to ignore, because deep within ourselves, we all possess that same spark—the energy that drives us to think and feel with our bodies. I believe her work serves as a catalyst to help us reconnect with this essential way of being. Many of us are beginning to realize that thinking with the body is a vital skill in today’s stagnant society, and I believe this is why the world is starting to turn its attention to her. I am deeply grateful that this show offers the opportunity for people to experience Yu Kobayashi’s work first hand.

– Kazunori Hamana, 2025