Roppongi Art Night 2017 will be held over two days, from September 30th to October 1st. Roppongi Art Night is a one-night-only art festival set in the district of Roppongi, where a steady stream of people wanders the streets, even during the core hours between sunset and dawn. This year's eighth edition is themed "Festival of the Future." Photographer and film director Mika Ninagawa will serve as the main program artist, and a variety of art programs will be developed. Also, for the first time, a new project called the "Southeast Asia Project" will be launched, inviting notable Southeast Asian artists and Japanese artists with ties to Southeast Asia to create works that engage with the area and its people, thereby invigorating the area. This year's project will feature Navin Rawanchaikul from Thailand and the Neo Angono Artist Collective, an artist group from Angono, Philippines, famous for its Giant Festival. From Japan, the National Museum of Art, Okutama, a collective of artists, many of whose members have exhibited work in Southeast Asia, will also participate. On July 24, Ninagawa attended a press conference at Roppongi Hills and spoke with Nanjo Fumio, chairman of the Roppongi Art Night Executive Committee. "I've always wanted to participate; it seemed like such fun, it was a little unfair. I was incredibly happy to be selected, and I'm feeling excited and nervous as I prepare. I'm still figuring out where to start, but I'd like to create photo spaces on both sides of the central stage, where people can enter my world of photography, take photos, and share them on social media, erasing the boundary between the performers (artists) and the viewers." Nanjo said, "The diverse colors of Ninagawa's works are perfect for the game of festivals. I thought it would also be a good fit for working with Southeast Asian artists, whose people and cities are overflowing with color. Because this is an event taking place in the city, I want to make it different from a museum exhibition and make it an art festival that anyone can enjoy, like a festival. With the addition of the Southeast Asia Project, I expect this to be a diverse and colorful art night."

[Event Information]
"Roppongi Art Night 2017"
Dates: September 30th - October 1st
Venue: Roppongi Hills, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo Midtown, Suntory Museum of Art, 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, The National Art Center, Tokyo, Roppongi Shopping Arcade, and other cooperating facilities and public spaces in the Roppongi area
Time: September 30th 10:00 - October 1st 18:00 *Core time is September 30th 17:27 (sunset) - October 1st 5:36 (sunrise)
Admission free *Some programs and museum events require a fee