Art Fair Tokyo
(2019年03月07日 - 2019年03月10日)
https://artfairtokyo.com
Art Fair TokyoHall E and Lobby Gallery
3 Chome-5-1 Marunouchi
Art Fair Tokyo 2019
Announcing Theme of “Art Life”
Expanding the area, a new section "Crossing" appeared. Two
international exhibitions of cooperation project with embassies
in Japan and collaboration with Japanese art schools are held
simultaneously.
Art Tokyo Association will hold Art Fair Tokyo 2019, the largest
international art fair in Japan, at Tokyo International Forum from March 7
to March 10, 2019.
The 14th edition of Art Fair Tokyo is themed “Art Life.” In addition to
taking place in the Tokyo International Forum Lobby Gallery across an area
twice the size of last year and including the new Crossing section offering
exhibits for sale, the 2019 fair will hold the Projects section once again
featuring up-and-coming artists in a series of solo exhibitions, while the
two special exhibitions that enjoyed a strong reception at the last fair,
“World Art Tokyo” in partnership with embassies and “Future Artists Tokyo”
in partnership with Japanese art colleges, will return in newly expanded
versions.
Fair Theme: Art Life
The relentless forward march of technology knows no bounds. Virtual
networks now pervade every corner of our lives, forming the core of our
society today. On the other hand, nature constantly threatens to wipe away
the order that human wisdom has built up since ancient times, while also
simultaneously continuing to function as our primitive source of healing and
food.
We live through times always pursuing efficiency and economy. And yet, we
also aim to improve our lifestyle by returning to nature and proactively
adopting “slow living.” In this way, we endeavor to find and practice the
lifestyle that best matches us. However, what is required of us today is
surely rather to refine our personal sensibilities towards the diverse
self-expression of others or to re-examine ourselves through dialogue. As
such, Art Fair Tokyo 2019 will explore the theme of “Art Life.”
When we come face to face with art, it provides the chance to rethink our
own ideas and ways of living by examining our interests and thinking, and
questioning what makes the artwork appealing or attractive. As values
continue to diversify and industry and culture intersect in ever more
complex ways, art can take on the role of influencing our lives and showing
us the future.
Art Fair Tokyo 2019 aspires to serve as a platform for encounters and
dialogue with visitors, and form an opportunity to enrich people’s lives.
New Fair Section: Crossing
A newly launched section called Crossing will appear at the entrance to the
fair, taking place in an area of the Tokyo International Forum venue that is
free to the general public and this year doubled in size. At the “crossing”
where a wide range of art intersects, visitors can experience the very
latest trends from Japan’s incredible varied art scene.
Highlights include booths by leading Japanese department stores, regional
crafts bodies that convey the current state of culture around the country as
well as traditions hundreds of years old, and outsider art and celebrity
artists’ work expressed through diverse values.
The practice in Japan of buying and selling artworks at ordinary department
stores comparatively unusual from an international viewpoint and surely
demonstrates that art exists in society as something familiar and accessible
to Japanese people. According to the Japanese Art Industry Market Research
Report 2017 (Fig. 1), department stores account for the second highest
number of artwork sales in the market after domestic galleries. At the
booths presented by department stores, visitors will see exhibits harnessing
each store’s distinctive character.
The regional crafts organizations create contemporary art that can connect
traditions, culture, and techniques with the future. They disseminate
monozukuri such as Kagawa lacquerware and Kanazawa crafts in ways that are
accessible for the present day. Visitors can encounter examples of superb
Japanese crafts that can easily fit into our everyday lives and lifestyle
environments.
In addition, at the Tokyo International Forum Lobby Gallery on the first
basement floor, the Projects section will return with a showcase of
up-and-coming artists in solo exhibition formats.