The Sapporo International Art Festival 2014 will run for 72 days from July 19th to September 28th, 2014, with Ryuichi Sakamoto as guest director. The aim is to powerfully communicate to the world the appeal of next-generation lifestyles and creative industries that make use of Sapporo's various resources. Various pre-festival events have already been held, and Sakamoto is also participating in the currently ongoing lounge event "CHRISTMAS ART PARTY" at Omotesando Hills. The main theme of this art festival is "City and Nature." Sakamoto decided on this theme because it was one he wanted to reconsider after his experience of nuclear power plant disasters during the Great East Japan Earthquake.
"It is an event that transcends the framework of a contemporary art exhibition," "an international artist has been invited to serve as the general artistic director of the triennale," and "the local community will become the host and work together to create the art festival in accordance with the festival's theme." Under Sakamoto's direction, the entire city of Sapporo will become the stage for the festival, including its nature, townscape, parks, historical architecture, and underground pedestrian spaces.
The special exhibition "Sapporo International Art Festival 2014: City and Nature," to be held at the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art and the Sapporo Art Park, will include a screening of the participatory documentary "Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow," by world-renowned German artist Anselm Kiefer and British film director Sophie Fiennes, as well as the special exhibition "Sensing Streams" in the Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Pedestrian Space (Chi-Ka-Ho), along with a citizen participation program at the same location. In addition, the festival will feature "CHROMA," the latest performance piece by director Shiro Takatani, who continues to thrive both in Japan and abroad, and "BABEL (words)," a contemporary dance piece by Belgium-based Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Damien Jalet. On September 27th, the night before the festival's closing, a collaborative concert will be held between Sakamoto and German musician Albanot. Other events planned at the Sapporo Art Museum include "FOGSCAPE #47412," an artificial fog installation by artist Fujiko Nakaya; "Forest Symphony," an installation and web content by Ryuichi Sakamoto and YCAM InterLab at "HIDAMARI," a glass pyramid in Moerenuma Park designed by sculptor Isamu Noguchi; and the "Sapporo City Archives Renovation Ideas Competition," a project that reconsiders historical buildings. On November 4th and 5th, the second pre-festival event, "Let's Hear a Vision for Sapporo's Future!", was held ahead of the start of the festival. Approximately 1,300 people attended the symposium, which brought together Sakamoto, planning advisors, and associate curators, and approximately 1,400 people attended the Ryuichi Sakamoto concert the following day, creating a buzz. Sapporo International Art Festival 2014 is also participating in the "CHRISTMAS ART PARTY" lounge event currently being held at Omotesando Hills. Special events are planned for December 22nd, including a message from Sakamoto, sales of his works and books, and a live performance by the Open Reel Ensemble, known for their work on ISSEY MIYAKE show music.
[Event Information]
Sapporo International Art Festival 2014
Location: Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Sapporo Art Park Museum, Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Pedestrian Space, etc.
Dates: July 19th to September 28th, 2014
