Tokyo’s premier luxury retail and cultural destination, GINZA SIX, will host a striking new work by internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Julian Opie this September. Titled Marathon. Women., the large-scale LED video installation marks a first for Opie, known for his minimalist, pictogram-like depictions of human figures.

Born in London and educated at Goldsmiths, University of London, Opie has long explored the boundaries of visual perception by reducing people to simple shapes and colors while keeping them unmistakably human. Marathon. Women. extends this approach into motion, offering a fully immersive experience that actively engages the audience.

The installation features seven female runners in continuous motion, rendered with bold lines and vivid yet simple colors. Suspended within a 10-by-8-meter LED enclosure in the central atrium of GINZA SIX, the work spans floors two through five, encouraging visitors to move around and experience it from multiple perspectives. As Opie explains, the interaction between viewer and artwork is essential: “By walking around the runners and observing how it shifts your perception, audiences become part of the installation.”

The piece draws on Opie’s fascination with running as a fundamental, universal human activity. “Running is instinctive,” he notes. “It’s embedded in our makeup through evolutionary forces. Long before modern civilization, our ancestors survived by relentlessly pursuing prey. It’s an action everyone can relate to on a primal level.” Each runner in the installation is modeled on a real member of the British Track and Field Team, grounding the piece in reality while maintaining Opie’s signature abstraction.

Opie’s decision to debut the work at GINZA SIX was inspired by the space itself. “I was impressed by previous installations,” he says. “I wanted to create a work that would make sense in this bustling space and yet blend in effortlessly.” The atrium’s soaring architecture—stretching over four floors—allows the suspended LED screen to be viewed from virtually any angle, enhancing the immersive quality of the work.

GINZA SIX, designed by Yoshio Taniguchi and opened in 2017, is a hub of contemporary culture and luxury. Its central atrium has hosted transformative works by artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Daniel Buren, and teamLab. The complex’s combination of high-end retail, cultural venues, and architectural innovation makes it an ideal setting for Opie’s exploration of movement, technology, and audience engagement.

Beyond shopping, GINZA SIX offers visitors access to the KANZE NOH THEATER and a serene rooftop garden, blending tradition, modernity, and art in a uniquely Tokyo experience. With Marathon. Women., the complex continues its tradition of presenting large-scale contemporary artworks that elevate the everyday act of visiting a luxury mall into a full-fledged cultural experience.

Marathon. Women is on display from 11th September 2025 to Autumn 2026 at GINZA SIX, Central Atrium (2F – 5F).

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