Kento Senga built his career with Kis-My-Ft2, learning timing, lighting, and how to read a crowd. He now applies that craft to FiNGAiSM—character-led work in painting, sculpture, and 3D animation centred on FiNGA.
In 2025 he showed “Essence of Love” at Whitestone Gallery, Seoul, which confirmed a serious studio practice. London is his European debut at Saatchi Gallery within FOCUS London 2025.
For Saatchi he brings new paintings, a two-metre sculpture, and a London-inspired animation. He also writes the music for his films and makes shoes by hand, keeping everything within one world.
I’ve followed his pop career for years. Seeing FiNGAiSM here shows a new side—the J-pop performer as studio artist, aiming for “the world’s most recognisable character.” I met him on opening day; the full interview follows.
Interview: Kento Senga (FiNGAiSM, London 2025)
Akane (Japan Nakama): Thank you very much for your time today. Congratulations on holding your solo exhibition.
Kento Senga: Thank you.
Akane (Japan Nakama): Since our time is limited, I’d like to jump right into the questions. You’ve held solo exhibitions across several Asian countries before, but now you’re finally in London. In light of your goal to “create the world’s most recognisable character,” what personal meaning does this London exhibition hold for you?
Kento Senga: Well, London itself is a very multicultural place — a country where people from all kinds of backgrounds live together. And among such diversity, I think modern art was born here — there are various theories about that, but for me, London is a place that carries a strong mythic quality in relation to contemporary art.
So I had always thought that one day, I absolutely wanted to exhibit here. Once it was decided that I would hold my solo show at Saatchi Gallery, I began creating this exhibition while considering this place as my goal for the year. Right now, there’s an animation playing inside the venue, and that animation was actually created with the cityscape of London in mind.
Since this is a place deeply connected with modern art itself, I was really curious to see what kind of reactions and evaluations people would have when they encountered my work here — what they would feel. That was something I thought about a lot.
So this exhibition is really the culmination of my year; it includes pieces I’ve never shown before and new works that I created especially for this occasion.
Akane (Japan Nakama): By the way, which ones are the new works?
Kento Senga: All of the paintings on this side (the right-hand wall) are newly made. And this figure here (the large sculpture in the center of the venue) — I’d never created anything like it before. It’s over two metres tall.
Akane (Japan Nakama): How long did it take you to produce this piece?
Kento Senga: About three months.
Akane (Japan Nakama): Was it made with a 3D printer?
Kento Senga: Yes, that’s right. But there are parts I was very particular about. For example, you know the kind of coating material that’s used on the exterior of cars? I actually used that kind of coating on the figure. I worked closely with technicians to see how I could express the shine, the presence, and the sense of luxury that only I could create in a figure — and that’s how this final piece came together.
Taking Risks and Finding Excitement
Akane (Japan Nakama): Thank you. Next question: you’ve described yourself as a “budding contemporary artist.” For you, as a Japanese artist, what are the appeals and the fears of taking on challenges on the global stage?
Kento Senga: Well, evaluation itself is scary. I think it always comes with fear.
But on the other hand, there’s excitement — the thrill of seeing how many people might feel happiness through my art.
I’ve always liked diving into that kind of situation. Whatever you do in life, fear always comes along with it.
What scared me most this time was that everything you see here — including the venue itself — was funded by me personally. I paid for everything out of my own pocket. So I was basically in a situation where, honestly, my money could run out tomorrow.
But in expression, I believe “limitations” are unnecessary feelings. So when I’m pursuing expression, I don’t set limits. Even if I have to go into debt, I’ll keep creating.
Akane (Japan Nakama): So would you say that excitement, rather than fear, has continued to drive you up to this point?
Kento Senga: Yes. Even fear itself becomes one form of expression.
But I also feel that I want to express myself as something different from what people currently imagine when they think of contemporary art.
Modern art is often expressed mainly through painting — of course, there are sculptures and other forms — but I don’t stop there. I also work with animation, and the music used in my animations is composed by me; I also write the lyrics myself.
I also make shoes — I actually sew and construct them.
So, I don’t think there needs to be any restriction on the range of creativity.
In that sense, as one kind of creator, through this project “FiNGAiSM,” I want to continue holding exhibitions that make people fall in love with this world I’m building.
London Moments
Akane (Japan Nakama): Thank you. I’d like to ask about your experiences in London. Your promotion using the iconic red double-decker buses has become quite a topic. Is there anything “London-like” you’d personally like to experience, or something you’d like to challenge yourself with while you’re here?
Kento Senga: There are so many things I want to do. First of all, I haven’t ridden one of those London buses yet, so I want to do that. Also, I saw that on the Underground, along the escalators, all the ad panels are moving. There’s a station called South Kensington — I haven’t gone there to see it yet either.
And right now, I’m actually running an event here. Over three days, we’re holding a mystery-solving game for visitors.
The first person who solves all the riddles and arrives at the specified location will receive one of my figures as a gift. It’s a figure that sells for around £4,000.
Akane (Japan Nakama): Really? That’s amazing.
Kento Senga: Yes, I’m giving that away.
So, I’m doing that kind of event too.
I want this space to be one where people can enjoy everything that comes out of FiNGAiSM as a whole.
Akane (Japan Nakama): London is home to many world-famous art museums — is there any particular one you’d like to visit if you have the chance?
Kento Senga: Basically, all of them are places I’d love to visit. Rather than singling one out, I’d say I don’t know each in great detail — but just walking around here, the architecture itself already feels like art.
Art, Emotion, and Connection
Akane (Japan Nakama): Thank you. You often talk about your message “connecting the world through fingers.”
What kind of ideal world of FiNGA do you envision?
Kento Senga: Well… Around the world, wars are intensifying and innocent children are losing their lives. I live peacefully in Japan, but I’m aware that terrible things are happening on the other side of the world
Through my creative work, I want to somehow change that kind of world — even a little. I truly hope my art can become a spark for that. Of course, I can’t take direct or drastic action to change such situations. But I want my art to become something like a small piece of hope, or something that nurtures love — a gentle part of people’s happy memories.
That’s why I see my artworks and my animations as separate things. The animation is something that anyone can watch for free.
This time, I made an animation with the theme “Essence of Love,” about unrequited love. You know, the way Japanese people express love — the resolution of language, or the emotional detail — is incredibly high.
In contrast, overseas expressions of love are often more aggressive or direct.
So this story also incorporates a lot of that Japanese subtlety and restraint. There are many forms of love, but through this animation,
I want to convey one new form of warmth — a new shape of love — that people can feel in their own way.
Looking Ahead
Akane (Japan Nakama): This will be the final question.
As an artist, are there any cities or themes you’d like to challenge yourself with in the future?
Kento Senga: I’d love to take on a challenge like exhibiting at MoMA in New York.
There are still so many steps I have to take from here. But the foundation of this whole entertainment aspect — that comes from what I learned through my career as a Japanese idol, in Kis-My-Ft2.
Even the lighting you see here (points to the lights in the venue) — some of it is the same kind of lighting equipment I’ve used in my live concerts.
So, this space is both a live venue and a place for excitement. What lies ahead after I keep doing this — I won’t know until I get there. But I do hope that FiNGA will eventually become “the world’s most recognisable character.”
Akane (Japan Nakama): Thank you very much. That concludes the interview. Thank you again for your time.
Senga’s UK debut solo show FiNGAiSM ran at Saatchi Gallery, London, from 16 to 19 October 2025, with an Artist Talk on the closing weekend. Keep an eye on his future London engagements for the next chapter of the project
Event snapshot
What: FiNGAiSM by Kento Senga (solo presentation within FOCUS)
When: 16–19 October 2025
Where: Saatchi Gallery, Gallery 4, Duke of York Square & King’s Road, London SW3 4RY.
Tickets: General admission Adults £10 / Children (5–15) £5; VIP £50. Booking via FOCUS.
Getting there
Nearest Tube: Sloane Square (District & Circle). Saatchi Gallery is 3–4 minutes’ walk from the station.
Step-free note: For detailed station accessibility, check TfL’s Step-Free Tube Guide; inside the gallery, the step-free entrance is to the right of the archway wall and all floors are served by lifts.
