Noncheleee - Magnum Sensi Hikaru Part. 1

NONCHELEEE
Magnum Sensi Hikaru Part. 1
Opening Thursday June 5th 6 to 8pm
Through Tuesday June 17th, 2025

The Fridge
11E 78th Street, 4th Floor
Tue - Sat 1pm to 5pm

The Fridge is proud to present Noncheleee’s first-ever U.S. solo exhibition, Magnum Sensi Hikaru Part. 1 — a fresh series by the Japanese Fukuoka-based pluridisciplinary artist. Self-taught and endlessly inventive, Noncheleee’s playful, surreal visual universe is steeped in reggae, dancehall, Jamaican roots, and the vibrant spirit of 60s, 70s , 80s & 90s... Japanese pop culture. His signature characters — part mascot, part myth — blend absurd humor with quiet critique, channeling the contradictions of everyday life through a uniquely disarming lens.

Emerging from the local music scene, he began designing flyers and record sleeves. Crossing effortlessly between art, streetwear, and sound, Noncheleee’s work has since resonated across Japan and Asia, grounded in DIY energy, community spirit, and a deep love for the unexpected. This exhibition marks his debut presentation in the United States — and the last show at The Fridge before the summer break. A rare and unmissable opportunity to step into Noncheleee’s world and experience his vibrant work, sound and vision firsthand in an immersive installation within our walls.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Around 2005, when I started going to clubs, I went to one that played dub and found many senpai who were smoking ganja and seemed to be in a daze — just smoking with the echoes, not really feeling the tightness or dryness of the music. On the other hand, when I went to a lively dancehall scene, it felt too lively — like the late reggae boom around 2005. I definitely sensed the country MAN VYBZ and the strict vertical social hierarchy, which wasn’t great (though I was kind of ignoring it). It felt too much like an athletic club to me. Then, I happened to see a dancehall video of Cutty Ranks doing Rub-a-Dub with Sleng Teng in ’86, and I felt this kind of silly, trippy acid vibe (I was born in 1986, so maybe that made it feel familiar). And then there was the “Bong! Bong! Peyoooon!!!” — the unique reggae intros by Joe Lick Shot I’d sometimes hear on records — that sealed it for me. My eye for dancehall became steady, and as a result, I started wanting to draw dancehall reggae people. And here I am.

Sensi Magnum: “Magnum” comes from Jamaican energy drinks and Magnum Saber from the Bakusou Brothers Let’s & Go!! (a Japanese 90s anime about mini 4WD racing). “Sensi” comes from the echo of Sailor Suit Bishojo Senshi and BB Senshi (a Gundam spin-off series). “Hikaru” traces back to Harima King Hikaru, a B-class sticker character from the Bikkuriman subgenre — a kind of stand-in for myself, someone who can hardly get into the mainstream.