A press conference for Art Fair Tokyo 2014, Japan's largest contemporary art event, taking place March 7-9, was held on January 27 at the Palace Hotel Tokyo, the event's main partner hotel. This year marks the ninth edition of the event, and as of January 27, 145 galleries from 28 cities, including 13 from overseas, are scheduled to exhibit. Three board members took to the stage at the press conference to introduce this year's highlights. Urakami Mitsuru, president of Urakami Sokyudo, explained the antique art section, featuring 20 exhibitors. In addition to antiques and ukiyo-e prints, each gallery will showcase new works selected by the galleries. Urakami Sokyudo will be exhibiting a collection of Katsushika Hokusai's best-selling "Hokusai Manga." "This year marks the 200th anniversary of the first publication of Hokusai Manga. Hokusai's work has also influenced world-renowned artists such as Manet and Andy Warhol, so I hope everyone will pay particular attention to his work," he said. The gallery's collection of Hokusai Manga is acclaimed as the world's best.
The "Artistic Practices" section, showcasing outstanding works and projects based on the concept that "artistic experimentation exists in every era and genre," brings together modern paintings by Japanese artists, primarily Western-style, under the theme of "Modernity Created by Japan." Works by Ryuzaburo Umehara, Yasuo Kazuki, and Tsuguharu Foujita are on display. Toyotsu Yamamoto, representative of Tokyo Gallery + BTAP, said, "In the Neo-Japanism era, Western artists were influenced by Japanese paintings, and Japanese artists, further influenced by them, created modern paintings that only Japanese artists could create. Japanese modern art is gaining attention overseas, including at MoMA. This time, I hope you will pay particular attention to works from the period of the transition from modern to contemporary art, and experience the unique Japanese sensibility expressed in them."
Yuko Yamamoto, representative of Yamamoto Gendai, explained the new "G-plus" section, where Japan's leading contemporary art galleries will develop highly curated projects. "The highlight of the exhibition will be a collaboration between multiple galleries, transcending genres such as contemporary art and antiques. We're planning to create a show that people can enjoy," says Yamamoto. Works by internationally renowned artists such as Noe Aoki, Kohei Nawa, Simon Fujiwara, and Hiroshi Sugimoto will also be on display. Other sections include "TOKYO LIMITED," showcasing "contemporary objects" such as crafts, jewelry, and fashion in an art context; "DISCOVER ASIA," featuring galleries from Asia, including Manila and Jakarta, making their first appearance; and "COVERD TOKYO," a collective exhibiting by four young galleries. For its third collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tokyo, Tokyo brand matohu will exhibit its 2014 Spring/Summer collection in an installation format, themed on "devoted dedication." Takahiro Kanejima, Executive Director of Art Fair Tokyo, said, "While the exhibition is divided into sections, the coming and going of various eras, including collaborations, exists everywhere. We aimed to create an art fair that can only be found in Japan. We hope that visitors will enjoy the experience of appreciating art across time." The event's key visual was created by Masayoshi Furuhira, representative and art director of FRAME. Furuhira has been involved in the exhibition's visual image since the first exhibition, and this time he collaborated with artist Teppei Kaneuji on the key visual. Kaneuji's works, using alphabets and paint, will appear throughout the venue. A collaborative car, with the cooperation of Mercedes-Benz Japan, will also be on display. Numerous other events are planned during the event, including talk shows, seminars, workshops, and parties. The Japan Media Arts Festival, organized by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, is participating as a collaborative partner this year, and talk shows will feature past award winners and Rhizomatiks' Daito Manabe.
【Event Information】
ART FAIR TOKYO 2014
Venue: Tokyo International Forum, Exhibition Hall, B2
Address: 3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Public Period:
March 7th 11:00 to 21:00
March 8th 11:00 to 20:00
March 9th 10:30 to 17:00
Admission Fee: 1-DAY Passport 2,000 yen, 3-DAY Passport 3,500 yen
