Tokyo Gendai announced several galleries and themed sectors for its highly anticipated second edition, which was held at PACIFICO Yokohama Hall C/D on July 5 to 7, 2024. The international art fair, which featured a VIP Preview and Vernissage on July 4, provided an immersive experience of Tokyo's rich cultural landscape. This year offered a full programme of talks, curated exhibitions, new commissions, and satellite activities, giving guests a one-of-a-kind opportunity to discover and participate with Japanese contemporary art.
Tsubomi's 'Flower Bud' exhibition, which featured four female artists from varied backgrounds, was one of the program's highlights. The exhibition "ALL THINGS ARE DELICATELY INTERCONNECTED" was produced by SPECTRUM, an international collective focused on diversity and representation in art. Marina Amada and Soojung Yi co-curated the showcase, which included pieces by Mika Tajima, Miya Ando, Jenny Holzer, and Sareena Sattapon. These artists used a variety of media to investigate issues relating to civilization and the natural world, expressing the interconnection of everything.
Sato 'Meadow' displayed large-scale installations around the fair, each highlighting a new theme in contemporary art. Highlights included Kishio Suga's "System of Surroundings" from Tomio Koyama Gallery, Udomsak Krisanamis' interactive "Every game begins with 'LOVE'" from GALLERY SIDE 2, Yuichiro E Tamura's performative "The Cowboy on the Grass" from KOTARO NUKAGA, and Kengo Kito's "LINES" from MtK Contemporary Art.
Ne 'Root' featured important local foundations such as the Odawara Art Foundation, the Fukutake Foundation, and the Foundation Yoshii, with each exhibiting particular displays of their work and future projects. Notable presentations included Odawara Art Foundation's Enoura Observatory, Fukutake Foundation's Benesse Art Site Naoshima, and Foundation Yoshii's Kiyoharu Art Colony.
The Art Talks programme comprised eight debates moderated by art world thought leaders such as Alexander S. C. Rower, Marc Glimcher, Mami Kataoka, and others. These seminars addressed major themes and developments in contemporary art, providing insights and stimulating discussion.
This year, Tokyo Gendai debuted IntoArt, a series of daily children's workshops organised by Gotoschool Inc. These workshops, given by exhibiting artists, provided a creative environment for youngsters to experiment with art materials and engage in educational activities.
The event also featured a full VIP programme that included visits to renowned cultural venues such the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, the Keith Haring Museum in Yamanashi, and the Pola Museum of Art in Kanagawa. In addition, the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo staged Theaster Gates' first solo exhibition in Japan.
Tokyo Gendai’s opening party on July 4 at the Yokohama Museum of Art featured a performance by dancer and choreographer Ranshou Fujima. Concurrently, Warehouse TERRADA hosts TENNOZ ART WEEK until July 15.
This year's Tokyo Gendai was an engaging experience, showcasing the best of Japanese and international contemporary art through diverse and innovative programming.
Learn more about Tokyo Gendai, including new dates announced for 2025, future talks, curated exhibitions, new commissions, and more, here.
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