Horse Romance

Group show with Iku Kawaguchi in words and pictures.

A little over a year ago, in December 2023 Iku Kawaguchi was part of a group show with Aleksandra Waliszewska and Emmanuelle Pidoux called ‘Horse Romance’. 6 months prior to that we released a book with Iku called ‘frozengirl’. It was edited and designed by Stephen Z Hayes. I asked Iku if she could write something about her show, which is what follows.

How did this show come about?

This was born out of a very strange connection. And this relationship was also born and nurtured within Tumblr. Around 2009, I started a Tumblr and was approached by France's "Frederic Magazine" to create a book together. On that team was Emmanuelle Pidoux. Frederic Magazine previously produced a book with Aleksandra Walizewska. Around the same time, I first saw Aleksandra's paintings on Tumblr and fell in love. She is like a god. I felt lucky just to be around the same time as her. I think I was able to continue drawing because of my admiration for her.

Emmanuelle then published zines of her favorite artists on her own label. Aleksandra and I were there too. Over the years, this exhibition was made possible through negotiations with a gallery owner that Aleksandra has a close relationship with.

It really is like a dream. It felt so dream-like and unreal. It's still the same today. I still don't know if it was real or not. I met Emmanuelle and Aleksandra for the first time in real life.

I think I was shy and couldn't connect with nature [naturally]. However, because we got to know each other through drawing, I feel like we understood each other. The gallery owner and staff were warm, professional and absolutely wonderful. They provided me and Emmanuelle with a nice apartment. Aleksandra is a superstar so many people came to the opening. And the beautiful Zuzanna Bartoszek, who contributed the text for this exhibition, read it aloud.

I think I was too excited, a combination of lack of sleep, wine, nervousness, and happiness. Looking at the photos later, I was embarrassed, but I realized that as long as the people who are important to me understand me, it doesn't matter how others see me.

It was the highlight of my life. After that, I became a bit of an empty shell, but when I look back on my life, it was always drawing that brought me beautiful news.

Also an encounter.

‘KONSKI ROMANCE’ was a gift from the god of drawing. He says, “Go on.” Perhaps.

Thanks for the drawing.

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Iku Kawaguchi lives and works in Tokyo. frozengirl collects drawings made between 2008 and 2023. You can find her on tumblr and instagram.