Art Central 2026, Booth B13 - "RECONCILE 歸和" Kohei UKAI's Debut 鵜飼康平 初登場 24-29.3.2026

Fusion 26-01(2026)

Natural lacquer, camphor wood, hemp cloth

W125 x D20 x H33cm

"RECONCILE 歸和"

A Solo Presentation of Lacquer Works by

Kohei UKAI 

鵜飼康平 

Debut at Art Central 2026, Hong Kong

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Curated and presented by

The Gallery by SOIL

Themed "Reconcile 歸和", the focus of The Gallery by SOIL’s presentation at Art Central 2026 is on the Japanese Urushi lacquer artist Kohei UKAI. Ukai seeks to celebrate the primitive vitality of his materials. His technique consists of wood carving to first obtain the desired shape and of multiple layers of lacquer, Urushi, to get to this unique finish that makes his sculptural works so special.

Art Central The Gallery by SOIL Booth B13 

VIP Preview Tuesday, 24 March | 2 pm – 8 pm By Invitation Only

Night Central

Wednesday, 25 March | 5 pm – 9 pm

General Admission

Wednesday, 25 March | 12 pm – 5 pm

Thursday, 26 March | 12 pm – 7 pm

Friday, 27 March | 12 pm – 7 pm

Saturday, 28 March | 11 am – 7 pm

Sunday, 29 March | 11 am – 5 pm

Exhibition Venue ：

Central Harbourfront

9 Lung Wo Road, Central,

Hong Kong

Limited number of complimentary tickets will be available on a first-come, first served basis. Please email to team@craftbysoil.com indicating your full name, telephone number, and email address.

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New Video Release

Embracing Nature: Wood and Lacquer by

Kohei UKAI

(courtesy of Keiko Art International)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT1meb824IU

“There are times when I feel the moment when the claim of the tree and the intention of the creator are balanced, and at that time, the natural flow seems to move.”

Kohei UKAI 鵜飼康平 was born in Aichi, Japan in 1993 and he earned his BFA and MFA at the Kanazawa College of Art. From 2018 to 2021, he was trained in Kanazawa Utatsuyama Craft Studio in Japan, specialising in wood crafts and lacquerwork.

Ukai’s work has been featured in art fairs and solo exhibitions in Japan and China. His work has been selected for the Ishikawa International Urushi Exhibition in 2014 and 2017 and received The Award of URUSHI (Japan URUSHI association) in 2018. He was the finalist, LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize 2020.

Ukai seeks to celebrate the primitive vitality of his materials. His technique consists of wood carving to first obtain the desired shape and of multiple layers of lacquer, Urushi, to get to this unique finish that makes his work so special.  Urushi is the tree sap produced when a tree is damaged or a branch is broken, an ancestral technique that continues to be used today for its unique properties.

“The shape is carved along the grain of the wood without deciding the finished shape. There are times when I feel the moment when the claim of the tree and the intention of the creator are balanced, and at that time, the natural flow seems to move. I also want to show the process of lacquer swallowing wood.”

In his working process, Ukai pays particular attention to protecting trees by naturally and unintentionally interacting with nature; a critical relationship between the lacquer and his raw material.

Highlights 亮點

Fusion 26-02 (2026)

Natural lacquer, zelkova wood, hemp cloth

W70 x D23 x H20cm

Fusion 25-31 (2025)

Natural lacquer, camphor wood, hemp cloth

W27 x D10 x H43cm

Fusion 24-20 (2024)

Natural lacquer, camphor wood, hemp cloth

W8 x D7 x H79cm

Fusion 26-03 (2026)

Natural lacquer, camphor wood, hemp cloth

W20 x D13 x H77cm

Fusion 26-05 (2026)

Natural lacquer, camphor wood, hemp cloth

W37 x D7 x H51cm

Fusion 25-03 (2025)

Natural lacquer, camphor wood, hemp cloth

W5 x D5 x H34cm

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Visit us at Art Central 2026

Booth B13

The Gallery by SOIL

If you feel interested in any artworks and would like us to arrange a guided viewing for you at Art Central, please email to team@craftbysoil.com or WhatsApp 95593908. 

若您對任何作品感興趣，而希望可安排導覽，請電郵至 team@craftbysoil.com 或 WhatsApp 95593908 ，我們樂意為您服務。

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Another Fine Day! SHI Yuguang's Lacquer Painting Solo Exhibition, part of the Tai Kwun Art Week continues at our gallery till 19.4.2026

大館藝術周「 願我們微光常亮 」石宇光 漆畫個展 繼續在藝廊舉行至19.4.2026 ，歡迎參觀。 詳情請閱此頁。

Melted Surroundings 《融化了的四周》

SHI Yuguang

Natural lacquer, wood panel, mother-of-pearl

W30 x D4 x H20cm

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Gallery Address:

Shop 102, 1/F, Barrack Block, Tai Kwun,

10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong

香港中環荷李活道10號大館營房大樓一樓102店

Normal Business Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 12nn - 6pm

Gallery Special Business Hours during Art Central 2026:

Opens 26-29 March 12nn - 6pm (Closed 24-25 March)

By appointment beyond these specified dates and hours

Enquiry: 9559 3908

Email: Team@craftbysoil.com

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The Gallery by SOIL is dedicated to presenting the art of lacquer from Asia. It is probably the first gallery in Hong Kong which brings together lacquer masters and artists of diverse cultures, blending the traditional with the contemporary to showcase variety in the discipline.