These works are drawn with a free-flowing imagination and style, crossing the line between fantasy and reality. Cats, young girls, mushrooms, and mysterious creatures create a world that makes you feel as if you've wandered into a circus. The Setagaya Literary Museum is hosting an exhibition covering the work of artist and picture book author Higuchi Yuko, titled "Higuchi Yuko: CIRCUS," spanning approximately 20 years of her career.

《Circus》 2018 ©Yuko Higuchi
Higuchi Yuko is an artist who has a wide range of activities, not only creating artwork but also publishing picture books. This will be Higuchi's first large-scale solo exhibition, and will feature over 500 works, including original picture book illustrations, collaborative works with companies, book covers, and illustrations for her own branded goods. The theme of the exhibition is "Circus." An actual circus tent will appear at the venue, and the space will be transformed into a circus venue with the addition of videos of Higuchi Yuko's familiar character, "The Clown Cat," and three-dimensional sculptures by stuffed animal artist Masayo Imai.

Gustave Jakuchu: Rooster, 2016 ©Yuko Higuchi

In addition, to coincide with this exhibition, Higuchi Yuko's first art book in six years, "CIRCUS" (3,200 yen), will be released. The 224-page book also includes an original manuscript by poet Hiroshi Homura on Higuchi's work. A limited edition with a different cover design will also be available at the exhibition venue, and it includes "Mushroom Conference," a visual story by Higuchi newly illustrated based on a short story by Kyusaku Yumeno.

The venue will also have a wide variety of goods on display, including Higuchi Yuko's favorite Holbein pen set, postcards, accessories such as earrings and brooches, tableware such as mugs and glasses, capsule toys, and more.

Related events include "Night Museum," a live and dance performance that will be held in the exhibition room after closing time on the first and third Saturdays of February, and "Circus Night with Kuroiro Sumire and Higuchi Yuko," a special evening in March where you can enjoy both a concert and an exhibition, as well as a "Balloon Art Workshop" where you can try making your own original balloon.