It has been 20 years since Akko Art Gallery opened on Sukhumvit Road and within that time period there have been countless numbers of encounters with artists based in Thailand as well as from overseas.  
 
The list was narrowed down to just 20 artists to represent the past into the future of contemporary art in Bangkok through the “20/20” vision of Akko.  Therefore, we asked the artists to uphold Akko Art Gallery’s values to provide only non-exhibited new works that have no religious icons and to be non-violent for this special event with an emphasis on looking into the past 20 years, now and into the future.

Artists Invited from Overseas
 
Japanese Artists

• Kato Shojiro (Contemporary “Japanese-Style Painting” artist) - Kato has received numerous awards in Japan.  Since his participation in the 1996 Asian Thai International Modern Art Exhibition, Kato has had 5 solo art exhibitions in Bangkok starting at the Japan Foundation as well as at Akko Art Gallery. In 2002, the Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan) placed him under an art scholarship and Silpakorn University granted him a one year artist-in-residence invitation.  During this time Kato strengthened his relationship with Thai artists and his experience of Asian art.  In recent years he has also had solo exhibitions at Xiamen University Art Department Gallery, China as well as in HCM City in Vietnam.
Since 2005 Kato has taken a leading role in the Bridge exhibitions alongside Akko and Vietnam & Thai art promoter Yukio Ogushi. Kato has also taken an active role along with Akko Art Gallery and Yukio Ogushi to promote Thai artists in Japan such as by a 3-man show with Vasan Sitthiket and Le Thanh Thu in Ginza, Tokyo.
Kato is currently also preparing for the program of promoting Thai artists such as Ekachai Luadsoongnern who is also one of the 20/20 artists, to art events in Japan within 2010.

• Kaz Orii (Contemporary oil on canvas artist) - Orii first exhibited his abstract artworks in Bangkok at the second biennale of the Bridge series exhibition in 2007.  Since then he has also had 2 solo exhibitions at Akko Art Gallery.  His success and the relationships that he built while here has spurred him onto solo exhibitions in Singapore, Poland and Portugal in a very short time frame.

• Iwao Akiyama (illustrious traditional Japanese woodcut artist) - 90 years old Akiyama has had two solo exhibitions at Akko Art Gallery. Due to Akko’s request for new paintings, Akiyama has kindly provided this exhibition with some new watercolour paintings as new woodcuts are now too strenuous at the age of 90!
Takahide “Tack” Akiyama, Iwao Akiyama’s son and a woodcut print artist in his own right will come in his father’s place and provide demonstrations during the opening as well as holding workshops during the exhibition period:  5th (Thursday) & 6th (Friday) of August. 
 
Vietnamese Artists

The two Vietnamese artists Le Thanh Thu and Uyen Huy are well-known artists and we hope that this invitation for them to come here this time will lead to a strengthening of ties.

• Le Thanh Thu (multi-award winning Vietnamese contemporary oil & acrylic artist) - Akko Art Gallery has from the early years introduced Le Thanh Thu’s artworks to the Thai art scene and has also supported his solo exhibition in Tokyo.  Thu has later been awarded the prestigious Philip Morris award twice and has matured to become a highly regarded master artist of contemporary Vietnamese art.  He has participated overseas in Japan, Singapore and Australia and his collectors exist all over the world.  Several museums also have his work in their collection.

• Uyen Huy (multi-award winning Vietnamese contemporary oil & acrylic artist) - Huy is an accomplished artist who also wears many hats in the Vietnamese art world. Akko Art Gallery has developed relationships with quality Vietnamese artists though the Vietnamese Fine Art Association of which Huy is Committee Member as well as Head of the Painting Department.  At the same time Huy is also currently Head of the Applied Arts Department of the University of Fine Arts, HCM City, as well as President of the Fine Arts Association of Ho Chi Minh City!

Japanese Artist based in Bangkok

• Kyoko Abe (2D and 3D Japanese artist based in Bangkok) - Akko has had the pleasure of working with Kyoko for over a decade and has held 5 of her solo exhibitions as well as encouraging her in the new direction she is increasingly taking that really kicked off during a 3D and installation exhibition at the Japan Foundation Bangkok a few years ago.  
For this exhibition, we will see her paintings, patchwork installation and other types of installations.