The National Art Center, Tokyo, Programs

Opening hours on Saturday, March 27 extended until 22:00!
On this day only, free admission to “Artist File 2010: The NACT Annual Show of Contemporary Art”

»The National Art Center, Tokyo Official Website

<Current Exhibitions>
Two exhibitions open until 22:00 on Saturday, March 27
*Opening hours extended until 22:00; admission until 21:30


O JUN, 3m, 2006-2007, pigment, Japanese pigment, gouache on paper
Photo: YAMADA Shinjiro
©O JUN Courtesy Mizuma Art Gallery

Artist File 2010: The NACT Annual Show of Contemporary Art

"Artist File," launched by The National Art Center, Tokyo to satisfy one of its primary objectives – the introduction of new artistic expressions – is an annual exhibition that presents a selection of contemporary artworks. This year marks the third event in the series, and features seven artists, including FUKUDA Naoyo, ISHIDA Takashi, KUWAKUBO Toru, Aernout MIK, MINAMINO Kaoru, O JUN and SAITO Chisato.
As viewers take each “file” in hand and make their way through solo exhibitions by each artist, they will revel in the unique forms of "reality" they encounter.

■Organizer : The National Art Center, Tokyo
■Dates : Wednesday, March 3 to Wednesday, May 5
■Hours : 10:00-18:00 / Open to 20:00 on Fridays
*Closed on Tuesdays except for Tuesday, May 4
*Admission until 30 minutes before closing
■Admission : free only on Saturday, March 27
More information for the admission
■Official website for the exhibition :
http://www.nact.jp/exhibition_special/2009/03/af2010.html

FUKUDA Naoyo
Born 1967 in Saitama. Currently lives and works in Saitama. While focusing on the relationship between writing and language, and herself and the world, FUKUDA has evolved a unique world of expression through her composition of palindromic poetry* and artworks using books and stationery. In this exhibition, her exhibits include a painting with a mass of minute renderings of the Chinese character for "lotus," which she made for her graduation project at graduate school; a series of works incorporating books; palindromic prints; and recent artworks using business cards and postcards. All of these language-oriented works will be integrated into a single installation.
* A palindrome is a phrase, number or other sequence of units that can be read the same way in either direction.

FUKUDA Naoyo, The Door Into Summer, 2003,
embroidered book, collection of the artist
Photo: IIDA Hiroyuki

ISHIDA Takashi
Born 1972 in Tokyo. ISHIDA currently lives and works in Tokyo. ISHIDA makes animation-like videos that show an abstract painting being created, one brushstroke at a time. Each brush stroke is documented in a single frame, and when projected as a sequence, the lines appear to be moving with a life of their own. Apparently liberated from human intervention, they threaten to entirely take over the canvas. The continuous, organic moving imagery that is born out of a still painting recalls the eternity of time and the infinite expanse of the universe, and draws the viewer inside with its majestic scale. In this exhibition, ISHIDA presents a video work shown on a three-part screen, and an installation that consists of scroll paintings and a video documenting its production.

ISHIDA Takashi, Wall of the Sea, 2007,
3 screen video installation, installation view at Toyota Municipal Museum of Art

KUWAKUBO Toru
Born 1978 in Kanagawa. KUWAKUBO currently resides and works in Kanagawa Prefecture. His paintings, in which people are seen lying down on the beach among piles of books, are filled with mysterious and fantastic imagery. While representing the artist's own mental pictures, they also suggest the bleakness of the contemporary era, in which ties between people have become increasingly weak. KUWAKUBO's brushwork and colors are reminiscent of European masters such as van Gogh, Munch, and Ensor, and they give the works added strength and depth. In this exhibition, he presents nine works in this style, and 10 new works based on a vase motif.

KUWAKUBO Toru, Poison of Light, 2009, oil on canvas
©KUWAKUBO Toru Courtesy Tomio Koyama Gallery

Aernout MIK
Born 1962 in Groningen, Holland. MIK currently resides and works in Amsterdam. He began his career by making sculptures, and later became involved in photography and installations. At that time he devised a unique method of assembling video images. In his videos, the stories initially seem to develop in a lucid way, but the works also contain recurring events and meaningless actions. MIK’s installations, in which these images are projected on multiple screens, not only stimulate the viewer visually but provide direct physical sensations. In this exhibition, he presents an installation comprising two videos works: Osmosis and Excess (2005) and Touch, Rise and Fall (2007).

Videostill from Aernout MIK, Touch, rise and fall, 2008,
2 screen video installation
Courtesy carlier | gebauer, Berlin

MINAMINO Kaoru
Born 1966 in Osaka. MINAMINO currently resides and works in Osaka. His works are ceramics. In other words, they are objects that are made of fired clay, but they appear to have been constructed from metal parts. The word "clay" reminds one of organic forms crafted by hand, but MINAMINO destroys such preconceptions by making technical drawings and molds, and calculating the degree of shrinkage after firing to create sharp, inorganic ceramic forms. In this exhibition, he introduces two new works representing his ongoing mission to explore new directions in the art of ceramics.

MINAMINO Kaoru, Untitled 0903, 2009, ceramic

O JUN
Born 1956 in Tokyo. O JUN currently lives and works in Tokyo. By exploring the relationship between his subject matter and himself, he produces two-dimensional works in a variety of media including painting, drawing, and printmaking. As he shifts from one set of materials and methods to another, he continues to devote himself to the act of "depicting." His pictures – depictions of perfectly ordinary and familiar subjects such as people, buildings, and landscapes with pure lines and flat fields of color – extol a unique brand of fantastic reality, undermining the viewer's customary way of seeing and thinking about things. In this exhibition, encompassing everything from his two-dimensional works from the late 1980s, produced by spreading oil pastels across the support medium with his fingers, to his most recent oil paintings, O JUN presents what is in effect a comprehensive retrospective of his career as a painter.

O JUN, 3m, 2006-2007, pigment, Japanese pigment, gouache on paper
Photo: YAMADA Shinjiro
©O JUN Courtesy Mizuma Art Gallery

SAITO Chisato
Born 1971 in Tokyo. SAITO currently lives and works in Chiba. In physics, the world is said to be constructed out of particles. Basing her work on this idea, SAITO began by expressing the forms of things we ourselves perceive as "particles." Initially, she made use of "particles of rice," followed by a "clover" motif that combined three "particles," and eventually, this developed into a "bubble" motif. SAITO's background landscapes, which have an abstract appearance due to the artist's use of water, are beautifully reflected in each of the bubbles. Along with works of this type, she presents an animated work that also deals with the theme of "particles."

SAITO Chisato, The portlaits of bubble, painted clover,
2009, lambda print


Dance at Bougival, 1883, Oil on canvas,
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Picture Fund, 37.375. Photograph
©2009 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

RENOIR: Tradition and Innovation

French Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste RENOIR (1841-1919) continues to be loved throughout the world as the "painter of happiness." He was a great innovator who has left his mark on the history of art for his continued pursuit of new forms of expression while at the same time having a firm understanding of tradition. This exhibition not only displays RENOIR's work in all its glory – with 77 pieces from major collections in Japan and abroad – but it also uses the latest optical technologies to shine light on RENOIR's painting techniques.

■Organizers : The National Art Center, Tokyo / The Yomiuri Shimbun / Nippon Television Network Corporation
■Dates : Wednesday, January 20 to Monday, April 5
■Hours : 10:00-18:00 / open until 20:00 on Friday
* Closed on Tuesdays
* Admission until 30minutes before closing
■Ticket purchase is required
More information for the admission
■Official website for the exhibition :
http://renoir2010.com/

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<Roppongi Art Night Original Programs>

Artist Talk

MINAMINO Kaoru and O JUN, two artists participating in “Artist File 2010: The NACT Annual Show of Contemporary Art,” give talks in front of their exhibits.

■Dates : 19:00–20:30, Saturday, March 27
■Artists : MINAMINO Kaoru, O JUN
■Venue : 2F, Special Exhibition Gallery 2E

MINAMINO Kaoru
Born 1966 in Osaka. MINAMINO currently resides and works in Osaka. His works are ceramics. In other words, they are objects that are made of fired clay, but they appear to have been constructed from metal parts. The word "clay" reminds one of organic forms crafted by hand, but MINAMINO destroys such preconceptions by making technical drawings and molds, and calculating the degree of shrinkage after firing to create sharp, inorganic ceramic forms. In this exhibition, he introduces two new works representing his ongoing mission to explore new directions in the art of ceramics.

MINAMINO Kaoru, Untitled 0903, 2009, ceramic

O JUN
Born 1956 in Tokyo. O JUN currently lives and works in Tokyo. By exploring the relationship between his subject matter and himself, he produces two-dimensional works in a variety of media including painting, drawing, and printmaking. As he shifts from one set of materials and methods to another, he continues to devote himself to the act of "depicting." His pictures – depictions of perfectly ordinary and familiar subjects such as people, buildings, and landscapes with pure lines and flat fields of color – extol a unique brand of fantastic reality, undermining the viewer's customary way of seeing and thinking about things. In this exhibition, encompassing everything from his two-dimensional works from the late 1980s, produced by spreading oil pastels across the support medium with his fingers, to his most recent oil paintings, O JUN presents what is in effect a comprehensive retrospective of his career as a painter.

O JUN, 3m, 2006-2007, pigment, Japanese pigment, gouache on paper
Photo: YAMADA Shinjiro
©O JUN Courtesy Mizuma Art Gallery


MINAMINO Kaoru
《Untitled 0703》 2007

Artist File 2010: The NACT Annual Show of Contemporary Art
Participant artist MINAMINO Kaoru exhibits a three-dimensional work outdoors

MINAMINO Kaoru, one of the artists participating in “Artist File 2010: The NACT Annual Show of Contemporary Art,” presents the three-dimensional work, Untitled 0703, outdoors at the National Art Center, Tokyo. It can be enjoyed even after the Center closes at 22:00.

■Dates : 17:58 (sunset), Saturday, March 27 till 13:00, Sunday, March 28
■Venue : Outdoors

MINAMINO Kaoru
Born 1966 in Osaka. MINAMINO currently resides and works in Osaka. His works are ceramics. In other words, they are objects that are made of fired clay, but they appear to have been constructed from metal parts. The word "clay" reminds one of organic forms crafted by hand, but MINAMINO destroys such preconceptions by making technical drawings and molds, and calculating the degree of shrinkage after firing to create sharp, inorganic ceramic forms. In this exhibition, he introduces two new works representing his ongoing mission to explore new directions in the art of ceramics.

 

Special Performance by YASUMOTO Masako x OORUTAICHI
“☆我苦我苦悶々☆”

A one night only special performance by multitalented and internationally renowned dancer YASUMOTO Masako and musician OORUTAICHI.

■Dates : 18:00-18:30, Saturday, March 27
■Performers : YASUMOTO Masako (dancer, choreographer), ALLTAICHI (musician)
■Venue : 1F, Atrium
■Admission : free *No reservation required
■More information :
http://www.nact.jp/ran2010/specialperformance/waku_hp.pdf

OORUTAICHI
A solo project by MORIGUCHI Taichi, who works in various units and sessions, including for the band Urichipangoon. OORUTAICHI began recording and performing in 1999, inspired by The Doors, The Residents and Dancehall Reggae. He released the album “Drifting my folklore” in 2007 and toured the U.S.A. and Europe in 2009.
OORUTAICHI is active in both Japan and overseas, and has provided remixes for TOKUMARU Shugo and “I am robot and proud.” He also provides sounds for stage art and dance performances, as he continues to pursue hyper-personal, pan-continental music. Is that auditory hallucination I hear? Or a phantom sound?
http://www.okimirecords.com/
http://www.myspace.com/oorutaichi

Photo:OORUTAICHI

YASUMOTO Masako
YASUMOTO began working as a dancer in 1999, and started choreographing in 2001. She has given various performances of her own work including “Naha Naha Cho,” “Yonaki-Yubyu” and “Buddha-Mondasutte” in a total of 12 cities in Japan and Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Thai, Indonesia and New York.
Not only is she active in dance, but also in theatre, music, film, fashion and much more.
http://yasumotomasako.net

Photo:YASUMOTO Masako
Photo:Kazushige Onuma


KONDOH Akino 2006
KURIHARA Takashi 2010
MURAI Satoshi 2009
KATO Kunio 2010
MIZUE Mirai 2009 
WADA Atsushi 2007

TOKYO ANIMA! - BOOT UP
No film can capture what's inside the mind.
That's why people make animation

The word "animation" comes from the Latin word anima (spirit). In other words, animation means to breathe life into the unlimited world of the picture plane. Perhaps it is the kinds of landscapes that you can only encounter in the realms of the imagination. Or it might be reality viewed from a new perspective. A totally new sensibility may be acquired from these works. Come and watch the very latest contemporary animation.

■Organizer: Tokyo Anima! Committee, The National Art Center, Tokyo
■Venue: The National Art Center, Tokyo, 3F Auditorium
* Admission free
* No reservation required
■Official website : http://www.tokyo-anima.com/

1. Screenings:
Saturday, March 27 15:00 Doors Open,
15:20-16:50 / 18:10-19:40 / 19:50-21:20
Sunday, March 28 13:40 Doors Open,
14:00-15:10 / 15:20-16:30 / 16:40-17:50

A showcase of latest contemporary art animations.
Films (including new works) by 30 young artists will be screened.

Film artists:
KATO Kunio, INABA Takuya, SAKAI Osamu, ICHINOSE Hiroko, OOKAWARA Ryo + OGAWA Yutaro + OKUDA Masaki, OYAMA Kei, OKAMOTO Masanori, KATO Ryu, KONDOH Akino, SAKAMOTO Saku, SAKAMOTO Yusuke, JOKO Tomoyoshi, TSUCHIDA Hiroyuki, NAKATA Ayaka, NISHINOMIYA Keita, NOGAMI Suwami, HASHIMOTO Shin, FUJITA Junpei, HOSOKAWA Shin, HOTCHI Kazuhiro, HORAGUCHI Yusuke, MIZUE Mirai, MURAI Satoshi, MORIKAWA Kohei, YAMADA Sonoko, YAMANAKA Yukio and WADA Atsushi.

2.Symposium:
Saturday, March 27 17:00-18:00

Part 1: Making "Animation"
Animation artists discuss Japanese animation.
What do animation artists think of the "circumstances" they find their works placed in these days?

Part 2: The Future of "Animation"
Special guests from organizations involved with Japanese animation hold a discussion.

Restaurants, Café, Museum Shops

[3F] Brasserie Paul Bocuse Le Musée
http://www.nact.jp/restaurant/01.html
* Opening hours extended until 22:00 on Saturday, March 27 (L.O. 20:30)
* Bring a guidebook for the Roppongi Art Night 2010 with you when you have dinner on March 27 and receive a complimentary mobile phone strap.

[2F]Salon de Thé Rond
http://www.nact.jp/restaurant/02.html
Opening hours extended until 22:00 on Saturday, March 27 (L.O. 21:30)

[1F]Café Coquille
http://www.nact.jp/restaurant/03.html#link1
Opening hours extended until 22:00 on Saturday, March 27 (L.O. 21:45)

[B1F]Cafétéria Carré
http://www.nact.jp/restaurant/03.html#link2
* Open regular hours (L.O. 17:30)

[B1F]Museum Shop: Souvenir from Tokyo
http://www.nact.jp/museumshop/index.html
* Opening hours extended until 22:00 on Saturday, March 27
* All those make a purchase on March 27 will receive a complimentary original postcard.

会場案内

MAP

* The completed work may differ in appearance from the photo.

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