Kanda Dan debuts Taiwan solo show at d/art

d/art Taipei opened Japanese illustrator Kanda Dan’s first solo exhibition in Taiwan on April 25, bringing the artist’s “お嬢様やめたい” original series and selected commercial work to the gallery’s third floor in Taipei’s Ximending district. The exhibition, titled “adorable｜館田ダン台灣初個展,” runs through May 24, according to the organizer’s exhibition page. Admission is NT$100 and includes one commemorative postcard, d/art said. The Taipei show gives Kanda Dan a Taiwan debut less than two years after the illustrator’s first solo exhibition, “Pre Lady,” opened at pixiv WAEN GALLERY in Tokyo in May 2024. d/art said the Taiwan exhibition centers on the “お嬢様やめたい” series and also includes representative commercial works. Ichijinsha, the Japanese publisher, lists Kanda Dan’s first art book, “Mona Noble,” with a 2025 release date. (d-art.tw) ### What exactly is on view in Taipei? Kanda Dan’s “お嬢様やめたい” series is the main focus of the Taipei exhibition, d/art said in its event materials. The organizer described the series as depicting a refined young lady who does not want to remain a young lady, alongside her sister and maids, in scenes that mix elegance with everyday humor. (pixiv-waengallery.com) d/art said the exhibition also includes commercial work from across the artist’s career. The gallery’s profile for Kanda Dan cites work in light-novel illustration, game character design, art production and VTuber character design, and says the artist has also been active as a VTuber. (d-art.tw) ### How much does entry cost, and what do visitors get? The Taipei venue charges NT$100 for entry, according to d/art’s exhibition page. The gallery said each admission includes one exhibition postcard. The third-floor exhibition space is not fully open to photography, d/art said, but the organizer set aside a designated photo area for a check-in campaign. (d-art.tw) Visitors who post a public social-media update with the hashtag “#adorable” and show staff the post can receive one random limited card from a set of three, while supplies last. ### Which merchandise is being sold, and what is limited? April 25 was the start date for in-store merchandise sales at d/art’s physical shop, while partial online sales began on May 1 through d/art’s online store, according to the gallery. d/art said some items were venue-only and limited in quantity, including copies of “Mona Noble” and acrylic reproduction signature boards that went on sale from May 2. (d-art.tw) The broader product lineup includes acrylic stands, acrylic charm stands, acrylic charms and postcard sets available both at the venue and online, d/art said. The gallery also offered signed giclée-style digital prints as preorder items. ### How does this fit into Kanda Dan’s recent exhibition history? (d-art.tw) May 14, 2024 was the opening date of “Pre Lady,” which pixiv WAEN GALLERY described as Kanda Dan’s first solo exhibition. That Tokyo show ran through June 2, 2024 and featured about 80 works, including original characters and past licensed work, according to the gallery. The 2025 art book “Mona Noble” gives the Taipei exhibition another current sales hook. (d-art.tw) Ichijinsha said the book compiles illustrations from the “お嬢様やめたい” series alongside commercial illustrations and an interview. ### What happens before the show closes on May 24? May 24 is both the exhibition’s closing date and the scheduled date for an auction of one hand-drawn signed board provided by Kanda Dan, d/art said in a May 5 update. (pixiv-waengallery.com) The gallery said registration for the auction opened on May 6 and that bidding starts at NT$5,000, with increments from NT$500. (data.ichijinsha.co.jp) d/art said the auction would be conducted through a Line group after in-person registration at the gallery, and that the live bidding session is scheduled for 4 p.m. on May 24. The exhibition remains on view at d/art Taipei through that date, according to the organizer’s page. (d-art.tw)