YUIMA NAKAZATO

From Kenya, through the Sahara, to Northern Finland. An exhibition showcasing the creations and process of leading Japanese couture designer, Yuima Nakazato — featuring three collections each born from the essence of the Earth and urgent global issues we face today.

For the first time in Finland, the Oulu Art Museum presents a solo exhibition by esteemed Japanese couture fashion designer and photographer, Yuima Nakazato. Nakazato’s creations represent the forefront of textile technology — working alongside industry experts and researchers pushing the very boundaries of innovation — interwoven with Japanese traditional craftsmanship. Beneath the surface of each collection resides a compelling question, raised by the designer, challenging the prevailing global issues of our era.

The exhibition showcases three of Nakazato’s collections, each conceived through his field work across the globe. Through his work Nakazato embraces groundbreaking techniques, explores themes that span centuries of Earth’s history, and deepens his understanding of local cultures and heritage. While preparing for this exhibition, Nakazato travelled to the island of Hailuoto and Inari in northern Lapland. It was here that he garnered inspiration for the Autumn/ Winter 2025–26 collection which was presented at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week in the summer of 2025.

This GLACIER collection is exhibited at the Oulu Art Museum together with two earlier collections, FADE and INHERIT — each subtly impelling viewers to engage with thought-provoking questions about fragility, climate change and pollution, which demand our collective attention in today’s world.

Yuima Nakazato’s work is presented extensively in the spacious Gallery A of the Oulu Art Museum through garments, photographs, sketches, and material samples.

The exhibition is directed by Yuima Nakazato in collaboration with curator Pasi Räbinä.

The exhibition is supported by EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee.