Benedict Vandaele
Sharing enthusiasm
Sleepwalker's Garden
This summer, 'Sleepwalker’s Garden' will take place in Ghent — the first solo exhibition in Belgium by the Japanese-French artist Makiko Furuichi (°1987, Kanazawa). In collaboration with curator Benedict Vandaele, Furuichi is transforming a former shop on the Kouterdreef into a dynamic art space. 'Sleepwalker’s Garden' brings together both new and recent artworks, in a variety of media including paintings, watercolours, sculptures, and textiles. The exhibition serves as a poetic gateway into Furuichi’s universe — an imaginary space populated by lush plants, mysterious animals, and hybrid figures. Her dreamlike world is inspired by Japanese culture, including mythology, manga, and film. As a result, her work is inextricably linked to themes such as ecology, animism, identity, and the relationship between the Eastern and Western worlds.

Makiko Furuichi © Léo Fourdrinier
Makiko Furuichi studied painting at the Kanazawa College of Art and continued her education from 2009 at the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Nantes. She currently lives and works in Toulon. In 2018, she received the Visual Arts Prize of the City of Nantes. Since then, she has exhibited throughout Europe and Asia, including at Frac des Pays de la Loire (Carquefou), Musée National Marc Chagall (Nice), Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain des Sables-d’Olonne, Centre Jacques Brel (Thionville), and Galerie Les Filles du Calvaire (Paris). In addition to publishing around fifteen books — including artist’s books and graphic novels — Furuichi has completed various public commissions, such as the decoration of a clock at the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud and a series of drawings for Angers-Nantes Opéra.

Plus un oiseau qu’un ange at Galerie Filles du Calvaire © Nicolas Brasseu
Sleepwalker's Garden
July 12th - August 17th
Wednesday - Sunday
1 pm - 6 pm
Open everyday during Gentse Feesten
On appointment
Kouterdreef 8
9000 Ghent
Belgium