This time, we'll be talking about "Urban Narratives," a project curated by an Indian art critic and showcasing Indian artists at Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo. The glass-walled space in Omotesando becomes a giant showcase promoting a specific country. The exhibition runs until May 6th.

Two years ago, I also saw a country-focused exhibition at Espace Culturel Louis Vuitton's Champs-Élysées store in Paris. It was a group show showcasing Indonesian artists. Whether in Paris or Tokyo, Espace exhibitions feel like a mental "journey" from the glass-walled space overlooking the city. It's a wonderful concept, typical of Louis Vuitton. With the cooperation of various embassies and always featuring commissioned works, Espace exhibitions successfully draw our attention to "social" exhibits rather than simply attracting customers to the store.

Speaking of exhibitions focused on a country, I was deeply moved by the country-specific exhibitions I saw at the last Venice Biennale. They were all powerful exhibits, focusing on a single artist or a single domestic issue. They were political, yet at the same time, they had a global, youthful perspective that people from all countries could relate to. It was as if I was seeing a microcosm of the world. Looking back, I once aspired to study political science, believing that art lacked the power to change the world, but I now realize how young I was back then.

However, there are also challenges to country-focused exhibitions. If an exhibition simply showcases national trends, the issues, messages, and images will become scattered and lack strength. It's a pittoresque (pictorial) exhibition, like looking at a travel brochure. It's also important to have elements that resonate with audiences across borders. This requires an idea that stimulates the personal sensibilities common to all humanity, while also possessing the power of an object.

I am very much looking forward to seeing what kind of exhibitions Espace, a private entity, will present that focus on "nations."