Highlights from 2023

Monday 10 July, 2023

The inaugural edition of Tokyo Gendai was held from 7 – 9 July 2023 at PACIFICO Yokohama. The fair attracted leading galleries from around the world and showcased exceptional contemporary artworks.

We are deeply thankful to everyone who attended, as well as participating galleries, sponsors, partners, and staff that made the inaugural edition a success.

Exhibiting Galleries

Galleries

Hana

Eda

Tane

Public Programs

In addition to presentations by leading contemporary art galleries, the public programs delighted many. The extensive program provided visitors with an opportunity to deepen their understanding and interest in contemporary art.

Tsubomi 'Flower Bud'

A special exhibit titled ‘life actually: the work of contemporary japanese women,’ curated by Michiko Kasahara (Deputy Director, Artizon Museum) and Yuri Yamada (Curator, Tokyo Photographic Art Museum).

Presenting works by some of Japan’s leading women artists including Leiko Ikemura (ShugoArts), Tomoko Yoneda (ShugoArts), Ayaka Yamamoto (amanaTIGP), Kunié Sugiura (Taka Ishii Gallery) and Yurie Nagashima (MAHO KUBOTA GALLERY), the exhibit explored how these artists are re-examining their relationship with themselves and their wider position within society.

Art Talks

Art Talks provided a rare chance to hear from key figures in the art world and beyond. Eight sessions were held, spotlighting key topics in art and culture.

Session 1 : Artist & Collector Dialogue

Takuro Kuwata : Artist
Shin Takeuchi : Art Collector, Director & CTO at Visional Corporation
Terri Fujii : Art Ambassador (Moderator)

Session 2 : Art & Fashion Dialogue

Kanako Sakai : Editorial Director of ELLE & Harper’s BAZAAR Group / Editor-in-Chief of ELLE Digital
Shohei Takahashi : Artist
Miwa Kutsuna : Contemporary Art Historian, Curator and Director

Session 3 : Dialogue : Takeo Obayashi × Mami Kataoka × Kohei Nawa

Takeo Obayashi : Obayashi Corporation Chairman of the Board, The Obayashi Foundation Chairman of the Board
Mami Kataoka : Director, Mori Art Museum
Kohei Nawa : Sculptor, Director of Sandwich Inc., Professor at Kyoto University of the Arts

Session 4 : From a Giant Grasshopper Sculpture to Yoko Ono

Fumio Nanjo : Senior Advisor, Mori Art Museum; General Advisor, Towada Art Center; Senior Advisor, Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art; Executive Director, Arts Maebashi
Noboru Tsubaki : Contemporary Artist, Professor at Kyoto University of Arts, Visiting Professor of Oil Painting at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
Yayoi Shionoiri : Executive Director, 1717 Studio Inc. (Chris Burden Estate and the Nancy Rubins Studio) and Art Lawyer

Session 5 : The Overview of the 8th Yokohama Triennale

Carol Yinghua Lu : Art Historian/Curator, Director of Beijing Inside-Out Art Museum
Liu Ding : Artist, Curator
Kuraya Mika : Director of Yokohama Museum of Art, Executive Director of Organizing Committee for Yokohama Triennale

Session 6 : Artist & Architect Dialogue

Shinji Omaki : Artist
Yukio Nagayama : Architect
Elaine W. Ng : The Editor and Publisher of ArtAsiaPacific (Moderator)

Session 7 : life actually, the works of contemporary japanese women

Kasahara Michiko : Deputy Director of Artizon Museum
Yuri Yamada : Curator of Tokyo Photographic Art Museum
Elaine W. Ng : Editor and Publisher of ArtAsiaPacific

Session 8 : Artist Talk Umar Rashid

Umar Rashid : Artist
Hiroki Yamamoto : Cultural Studies Scholar, Artist

Installation

Japanese artist Ryuichi Ohira unveiled a new large-scale installation entitled “The Circuit,” created specially for the inaugural edition of Tokyo Gendai.

The installation alluded to the many different definitions of the term ‘circuit’: race tracks; electrical circuits; the philosophical concept of a non-hierarchical, decentralized, and interconnected system; as well as synapses in neurology. The work consists of a large slot car racetrack and includes an array of objects and sculptures, some of which reference “Tanabata,” a traditional Japanese and Chinese star festival celebrated on 7 July each year- coinciding with the first day of the fair.

Ne 'Root'

Ne ‘Root’ presents several leading foundations, who host special showcases of their work. 

The Obayashi Foundation displayed an overview of its support towards artists, thinkers and researchers with a focus on urban development and the building of healthy cities. 

The Fukutake Foundation introduced its initiatives at Benesse Art Site Naoshima, an art program on the islands of Naoshima, Teshima and Inujima in the Seto Inland Sea. 

The Yoshii Foundation brought a curated presentation of works by interdisciplinary digital artist Daito Manabe from Rhizomatiks. 

The Odawara Art Foundation had a presentation of Enoura Observatory, established by contemporary artist Hiroshi Sugimoto. 

The Taguchi Art Collection presents educational programs including exhibitions for primary and secondary schools.

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