Ulala Imai

Union Pacific, London

Union Pacific

An exhibition view of a brightly lit, white gallery with a smooth gray floor. Two large, vertically oriented paintings hang on our left, on the side and back wall. The paintings are colorful and full, featuring scenes of toys placed in landscape and cluttered toy collections in a corner of a room.

A slightly different angle of an exhibition view of a brightly lit, white gallery with a smooth gray floor. Two large, vertically oriented paintings hang on our left, on the side and back wall. The paintings are colorful and full, featuring scenes of toys placed in landscape and cluttered toy collections in a corner of a room.

A wider view of a brightly lit white gallery with a smooth gray floor. Three large, vertically oriented paintings hang on our left, on the side and back wall. The paintings are colorful and full featuring scenes of toy groupings, toys placed in landscape and cluttered toy collections in a corner of a room.

A tighter view of the corner of the gallery. Two large paintings hang an either side of the corner. On our left a large, vertically oriented painting of a stuffed toy dog on wheels that has been dragged into a leaf strewn forest. The painting on our right shows two teddy bears amidst a collection of dollhouses. One bear wears a striped robe and the other bear wears a striped cape. The dollhouses on either side are filled with other dolls and objects.

An exhibition view of a gallery wall and grey floor. Two paintings hang on the wall. On our left a medium sized, vertically oriented picture of a collection of toys. They are layered and staggered by height as if for a large family portrait. On our right a large vertically oriented painting of a toy dog on wheels. The dog has been dragged into a leaf strewn forest with some kind of orange structure in the distance.

An installation view of a white, brightly lit gallery. A large vertically oriented painting hangs on the back wall. In the center are two teddy bears posed together. One bear wears a striped robe and the other bear wears a striped cape. On the right and left are dollhouses filled with other dolls and toys. The two bears are standing on a box draped with a pink, blue and yellow patterned cloth. Behind them the fronds of a large houseplant fray in all directions. Behind the houseplant are wooden shelves and the corner of a room.

A slightly different angle on an installation view of a white, brightly lit gallery. A large vertically oriented painting hangs on the back wall. In the center are two teddy bears posed together. One bear wears a striped robe and the other bear wears a striped cape. On the right and left are dollhouses filled with other dolls and toys. The two bears are standing on a box draped with a pink, blue and yellow patterned cloth. Behind them the fronds of a large houseplant fray in all directions. Behind the houseplant are wooden shelves and the corner of a room.

Another installation view of the corner of a brightly lit gallery. On our left we can just see the large painting of the toy dog in the forest. On our right, on the back wall, is the painting of two teddy bears in a room of dollhouses.

A slightly wider installation view of the corner of a brightly lit gallery. On our left the large painting of the toy dog in the forest. On our right, on the back wall, is the painting of two teddy bears in a room with dollhouses.

An installation view of a gallery wall with a large painting of a toy dog on wheels. The dog has been dragged into a leaf strewn forest with some kind of orange structure in the distance.

An installation view of a gallery wall hung with a medium sized painting of a group of toys. They are layered and staggered by height as if for a large family portrait. In the foreground on our right is a McDonald's figure holding a guitar, then a cat, a potato with a chain, a small blue cat, a man with a gray beard. In the next row starting on the right is a jar of skippy peanut butter with a yellow face mug sitting on top, a honey jar shaped like a bear, Darth Vader, and a white and brown mug of a face. In the next row higher is snoopy, an old woman doll, and a Chewbacca head. Lastly, the highest toys, almost at the top of the painting are a small Chewbacca figurine, a hamburger monster on a pedestal, and a figure with a wrapped face holding a staff.

Another installation view of a brightly lit gallery. On our right a large painting of a toy dog on wheels in a forest setting and further down the wall on our right a smaller painting of a collection of toys grouped together in a portrait.

A wider view of the installation of a brightly lit gallery. On our right a large painting of a toy dog on wheels in a forest setting and further down the wall on our right a smaller painting of a collection of toys grouped together in a portrait.

Installation view of a white, brightly lit gallery. The back wall is almost entirely taken up with a window looking out to a street. On our right, a medium sized painting is hug on a wall and on our left a huge painting takes up most of the wall.

Angled further to our left, a different view of the same part of the installation as the last shot. A large painting with two doll figures in a forest hangs on the left wall. To the right, a huge window looking out into the street occupies most of the wall.

A tighter view of the large, vertically hung painting with two centered doll figures hanging next to a corner of a large window that looks out to the street.

A head on installation view of a large, vertically oriented painting of dolls in a forest. Two pale skinned dolls are centered in the image. They are sitting on a tree branch in the midst of a forest.

Installation view of a large, horizontally oriented painting hung on a white wall. Centered in the painting are three figures: two teddy bears wearing bathrobes and a Chewbacca doll. The bear dolls are leaning against a piece of driftwood on pale gray stones on a lake or river shore. Grasses grow up through the stones in clumps and some grasses grow out of the water just behind the figures. To our left is a pale grey teddy bear wearing a white, gray and blue patterned bathrobe. Next to it is a tan teddy bear wearing a red, yellow, and blue patterned bathrobe. Just behind them, and the large driftwood they lean against, the Chewbacca doll seems to be coming up from the lake, its long face hair windswept.

An installation view of the corner of a white gallery with a pale gray floor. On the left a medium sized painting is hung close to the corner. The painting looks up into the canopy of a tree. The leaves are green and patterned against fragments of blue sky. A blue face with two large eyes appear in the middle of the painting. The face resembles a Cookie Monster doll from Sesame Street.

Another installation view of a medium sized painting filled with the underside of a tree canopy. The painting looks up into the tree where a cookie monster doll looks back.

An installation view of the corner of a brightly lit gallery. On our left a large, horizontally hung painting of two bears and Chewbacca dolls on a lakeshore. On our right a smaller painting of a forest in the snow.

An installation view of a brightly lit white gallery with a pale grey floor. On our left a partial image of a large painting of bears and Chewbacca at a lakeshore. On the back wall a smaller painting of a forest in the snow. On our right, a small image is mounted but due to the angle it's impossible to see.

An installation of a brightly lit gallery. On our left a partial image of a large painting of bears and Chewbacca at a lakeshore. On the back wall a smaller painting of a forest in the snow. On our right, a small painting of a piece of toast on a yellow plate. This is only visible after zooming into the image.

An installation view of a brightly lit gallery with florescent lights running along the concrete ceiling. On the back wall a medium sized, vertically oriented painting of a snowy forest. The sky in the background is blue and snow clings to every branch and bough.

An installation view of the corner of a gallery. On our left a medium sized painting of a snowy forest and on our right a very small still life of a piece of buttered toast on a yellow plate.

An installation view of the same corner, taken to see further to our right. A small painting of a piece of toast is hung on the right wall. On the back wall is a painting of a snowy forest. To our left another painting is hung but due to the angle it is impossible to see.

A head on installation view of a tiny painting of toast hung on a large white wall. After zooming we can see that the toast is on a yellow plate, sitting on a green, white and yellow table cloth. The toast has a square patty of butter in the center.

An installation view of a gallery. On our left is the edge of a painting of a snowy forest. In the center hangs a small painting of toast and to the right of it, on a wall deeper into the room, is a medium sized vertically oriented painting of an interior. Upon zooming in we can see a monkey holds a pale green sphere in front of a window and potted plant.

A closer installation view of a painting of an interior space. On our right, lace curtains cover a window. Beside the window is a potted house plant with broad leaves and to our right, the edges of honey wood cabinets. In the foreground of the painting, a monkey sculpture or doll clasps a pale green musk melon.

An installation of the corner of a brightly lit gallery. A painting hangs on each wall of the gallery. On our left a vertically oriented painting of an interior with a monkey doll clutching a musk melon. On our right, a larger painting that looks up into a canopy of trees while the cookie monster looks down.

Another installation of the corner of a brightly lit gallery. A painting hangs on each wall of the gallery. On our left a vertically oriented painting of an interior with a monkey doll clutching a musk melon. On our right, a larger painting that looks up into a canopy of trees while the cookie monster looks down.

Another installation view of a medium sized painting filled with the underside of a tree canopy. The painting looks up into the canopy of trees and the face of a cookie monster doll looks back.

An installation view of the corner of a gallery. On our left an installation view of a medium sized painting filled with the underside of a tree canopy. The painting looks up into the canopy of trees and the face of a cookie monster doll looks back. On our right a large, horizontally oriented painting hung on a white wall. Centered in the painting are three figures: two teddy bears wearing bathrobes and a Chewbacca doll. The bear dolls are leaning against a piece of driftwood on pale gray stones on a lake or river shore. Grasses grow up through the stones in clumps and some grasses grow out of the water just behind the figures. To our left is a pale grey teddy bear wearing a white, gray and blue patterned bathrobe. Next to it is a tan teddy bear wearing a red, yellow, and blue patterned bathrobe. Just behind them, and the large driftwood they lean against, the Chewbacca doll seems to be coming up from the lake, its long face hair windswept.

A large, horizontally oriented painting hung on a white wall. Centered in the painting are three figures: two teddy bears wearing bathrobes and a Chewbacca doll. The bear dolls are leaning against a piece of driftwood on pale gray stones on a lake or river shore. Grasses grow up through the stones in clumps and some grasses grow out of the water just behind the figures. To our left is a pale grey teddy bear wearing a white, gray and blue patterned bathrobe. Next to it is a tan teddy bear wearing a red, yellow, and blue patterned bathrobe. Just behind them, and the large driftwood they lean against, the Chewbacca doll seems to be coming up from the lake, its long face hair windswept.

A close up detail from the last painting. The image zooms into the tan teddy bear in the red, yellow and blue patterned bathrobe. Beside the bear, to our right, is a clump of dune grass, behind it is a piece of driftwood and a Chewbacca figure comes up from behind, appearing windswept. Water and reeds and blue sky fill the background.

Another detail from the last painting. This image zooms into the two teddy bears. On our right a gray teddy bear wears a white and blue and gray pattered bathrobe and next to it a tan teddy bear wears a red and yellow and blue bathrobe.

A large, vertically oriented painting of two dolls sitting on a tree branch in a lush green forest. The dolls appear to come from Charlie Brown characters. On the left, a doll in a green sweater and black shorts. On our right a doll with a white fluffy hand muff and a red outfit. They both have huge smiles and stare to our right into the forest.

A detail shot of the last painting. The image focuses in on the two Charlie Brown dolls and the criss cross of greenery before them.

A close up detail shot of the two grinning Charlie Brown dolls. It's clear that each smile is made from one stroke of paint. The paint is applied thinly everywhere and the grain of the canvas is still visible.

A large vertically oriented painting of a stuffed toy dog on wheels that has been dragged into a leaf strewn forest. The toy dog is pale with tan covering the ears and part of the face. The upper part of its back is also tan. Each foot rests on a metal framework attached to blue and white wheels. The forest around the toy dog has pale greens and rich browns and yellows. A silver green plant with coin shaped leaves grows behind the dog, in front of an orange structure that may be a green house of some kind.

A close up image of a tan and cream toy dog from the last painting. The paint has been applied thinly and the grain of the canvas is visible after zooming in.

Another close up detail from the last image. In this the dog's face is in the foreground and we see the silver gray bush with coin shaped leaves behind it. The orange, half domed structure is behind the bush.

A large, vertically oriented painting. In the center are two teddy bears posed together. One bear wears a striped robe and the other bear wears a striped cape. On the right and left are dollhouses filled with other dolls and toys. The two bears are standing on a box draped with a pink, blue and yellow patterned cloth. Behind them the fronds of a large houseplant fray in all directions. Behind the houseplant are wooden shelves and the corner of a room.

A close of of the two bears in the last painting. The gray bear with the blue and grey and white robe is also featured in the painting at the lake. The teddy bear next to it appears stiffer. It wears a green and white striped cape (which appears to be a towel).

Another close up of the last painting. The image zooms into the open side of a dollhouse. On the second story, a Chewbacca head sits next to a small cow toy. The dollhouse is pale yellow with a green roof.

A medium sized painting of a group of toys. They are layered and staggered by height as if for a large family portrait. In the foreground on our right is a McDonald's figure holding a guitar, then a cat, a potato with a chain, a small blue cat, a man with a gray beard. In the next row starting on the right is a jar of skippy peanut butter with a yellow face mug sitting on top, a honey jar shaped like a bear, Darth Vader, and a white and brown mug of a face. In the next row higher is snoopy, an old woman doll, and a Chewbacca head. Lastly, the highest toys, almost at the top of the painting are a small Chewbacca figurine, a hamburger monster on a pedestal, and a figure with a wrapped face holding a staff.

A vertically oriented painting that looks up into the canopy of a tree. The leaves are green and patterned against fragments of blue sky. A blue face with two large eyes appears in the middle of the painting. The face resembles a Cookie Monster doll from Sesame Street.

A painting of an interior space. On our right, lace curtains cover a brightly lit window. Beside the window is a potted house plant with broad leaves and to our right, the edges of honey wood cabinets. In the foreground of the painting, a monkey sculpture or doll clasps a pale green musk melon. They sit on a pale wood box.

A painting of the corner of a shelf with a group of dolls and stuffed animals arranged in a portrait. On our left, a Charlie Brown character in a red dress sits on a teddy bear's lap. Beside them a koala doll sits on the lap of a teddy bear with a black and blue and green patterned long sleeved shirt. On our left, a teddy bear stands. At standing height, this pale yellow teddy bear is slightly shorter than the two larger sitting bears. The background of the painting has brown and golds of wood. The top of the painting has the shadow, as if from the shelf above.

A small still life painting of a plate of eggs and ham. The plate sits on a medium gray background. The plate is white with decorative black lines along its edge. Covering almost the entire plate are paley rendered fried eggs with pale pink pieces of ham. A scattering of pepper dusts the center.

A small painting of half of a pineapple. The pineapple is sliced in half lengthwise, exposing an oval of pale yellow fruit. On the fruit a cut slice of banana is placed as a mouth, two green grapes are placed where eyes would be and half of an apricot or peach is placed on the forehead as a kind of jewel or crown, right at the base of the pineapple's flowing and spiky greenery. The pineapple is laid on a grey surface that is slightly reflective. Perhaps a large metal platter or table. On our left, on the top corner, there is the edge of another dish or plate.

A small still life painting of three partially peeled potatoes on a grey, reflective surface. The potato peel is dark brown and the interior of the potato is a pale gold. Slices of peel are strewn around the trio of potatoes. Next to the peel, a few drops of water scatter on the table surface.

A small still life painting of a piece of toast on a yellow plate with a patty of butter throwing a shadow in the center. The plate sits on a white and yellow and green tablecloth. The toast also throws a shadow on the plate.

A painting of a snow covered forest. The sky in the background is bright blue but in the foreground every branch and bough is covered with an inch or two of snow. The snow highlights all the directions of the branches making a complicated interweaving of dark and light.

Ulala ImaiReminiscenceUnion Pacific, London

Exhibition Images

Ulala ImaiReminiscence
Union Pacific, London