Greetings from the Executive Director of ART FAIR TOKYO
We are pleased to announce that ART FAIR TOKYO 2012 will be held over in the coming cherry blossom season, and that for the second consecutive year we welcome Deutsche Bank Group as the Main Sponsor. The fair will present artworks from a range of genres and periods, including antiques, crafts, nihonga, modern art and the latest contemporary art as always, and will feature the more than 130 participating domestic and international galleries.
This year, ART FAIR TOKYO 2012 is expanding our venue, taking up all of the Tokyo International Forum Exhibition Hall aiming for further development with fascinating programs and related-events. Launched in 2011 as an experimental exhibition, “Artistic Practices” becomes a special section this year retracing Japanese art history with high-quality works ranging from antiques to contemporary art.
Having our international vision of “Tokyo as a city within Asia”, we proudly launch “Discover Asia” – a new section where prominent galleries from Asian major cities, such as Seoul, Taipei, and Beijing, participate at ART FAIR TOKYO 2012 along with museums and Japanese galleries that have been receiving an international acclaim.
In addition, as the “PROJECTS” section is setting up within the Exhibition Hall this year, the section not only features the usual participations of international young galleries, but has a new section, “project in PROJECTS”, which dynamically presents the large-scale works of the latest Asia-Pacific art going beyond the confines of a regular booth.
Through the course of the event, ART FAIR TOKYO 2012 hosts many original programs and new related-events in collaboration with the other creative industries, such as “food” and “fashion”.
It is our hope that all of you enjoy a unique experience to discover the joys of “purchasing art”.
- Takahiro KANESHIMA, ART FAIR TOKYO Executive Director
About the Director
Takahiro KANESHIMA Executive Director, ART FAIR TOKYO (assumed role on June 1, 2010). Director , FEC (Far East Contemporaries). Kaneshima has managed research projects related to contemporary art in East Asia, activities for supporting artists, and interexchange activities. After graduating with an M.A. in Media and Governance from the Graduate School of Keio University, he worked for NOKIA and Toshiba Corporation. Since 2005, he has been involved in a variety of contemporary art businesses in Beijing. Kaneshima has worked as Gallery Manager at TOKYO GALLERY + BTAP in Beijing, and served as the East Asia producer for "ART iT." Kaneshima was born in 1977 in Tokyo.
Greetings from the President of ART FAIR TOKYO Co., Ltd.
Many will recall that ART FAIR TOKYO 2011 had to be postponed as a result of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Despite that postponement, the fair featured a total of 133 galleries, and welcomed a total of 43,000 people. As a platform for the earthquake-recovery activities mainly focusing on art, the fair featured an array of special events aimed at reappraising post-March 11 society, including a charity program. As a result, the fair succeeded in presenting a close connection between society and art.
For the 2012 edition, we have reformed the organizational structure of the ART FAIR TOKYO Committee so as to clarify lines of responsibility. Furthermore, ART FAIR TOKYO will continue to endeavor to demonstrate Japan’s important role in the global art scene and also expand opportunities for collaborations with other industries in line with our theme, “Open Art”.
- Kiichi KITAJIMA, President of ART FAIR TOKYO Co., Ltd.
About the President
Kiichi KITAJIMA Before assuming his current position in October 2011, KITAJIMA worked for 11 years as a fixed income trader in the financial industry in Mitsubishi UFJ, JP Morgan and Nomura Securities. He has also actively participated in various earthquake-recovery projects. KITAJIMA was born in 1974 in Tokyo and graduated with an M.C.S. from the Graduate School of Keio University.
Greetings from the Main Sonsor
Deutsche Bank Group is honoured to once again be the main sponsor of Japan’s largest art fair, ART FAIR TOKYO. This year, we welcome the seventh ART FAIR TOKYO and anticipate it will continue to expand understanding for art’s inherent potential among an increasingly broader audience.
Deutsche Bank Group is a leading financial institution operating in 73 countries, offering unparalleled products and services in investment banking, commercial banking, asset management and other financial businesses worldwide. Alongside these core activities, we regard our corporate social responsibility as an investment in society and in our own future, building social capital in all the regions in which we operate through five areas of activities, including art, music and education.
Our approach to our commitment to art is best described by our motto, “Art works”. In line with this, we leverage our collection of over 56,000 works by displaying them in more than 900 of our offices worldwide, offering our employees, clients and visitors access to these highlight pieces of contemporary art. Through our commitment to art, we also support the development of young talented artists and promote projects that provide children with an opportunity to unfold their hidden potential in a new world through contemporary art. Our sponsorship of ART FAIR TOKYO mirrors associations we enjoy with other leading art fairs, such as the Frieze Art Fair in London and the Hong Kong International Art Fair.
We are proud to sponsor ART FAIR TOKYO in showcasing Japan’s originality and its quality, and in continuing to help its audience to discover meaning in the art they encounter.
ART FAIR TOKYO is made possible thanks to a number of parties. We enjoy our relationship with those responsible and I would like to express our sincere appreciation to all involved.
Yours sincerely,
David Hatt
Chief Country Officer
Deutsche Bank Group (Japan)
What's New art ART FAIR TOKYO 2012
Venue Expansion
For the seventh edition in this year, the fair will have an expanded venue, taking up the whole area of the Tokyo International Forum Exhibition Hall. As a result, the special section for young contemporary art galleries, “PROJECTS,” which was located in the Lobby Gallery until last year, will be set up within the Exhibition Hall, and several new programs will be conducted.
Artistic Practices
Launched in 2011 as an experimental exhibition for contemporary art, Artistic Practices will be expanded in 2012 to introduce an even wider range of creative works mainly focusing on art to present high-quality works of Japanese art and projects. Its theme will be “artistic practices exist in all times and all genres”.
1) “ShuffleII”
Curated by Yuji YAMASHITA (Professor, Meiji Gakuin University), “Shuffle” took place at the Shirokane Art Complex as a collaborative program of ART FAIR TOKYO 2011. This year, welcoming YAMASHITA as a Curatorial Advisor, “ShuffleII” will be held at ART FAIR TOKYO 2012, and special exhibits will include high-quality works from all genres ranging from antiques to contemporary art.
■In Cooperation with: Shouun Oriental Art, NANZUKA, Hagurodo, Gallery Hirota Fine Art, HOUMANDO, Mizuma Art Gallery, London Gallery, YOKOI FINE ART
2) Collaboration Booths with Other Creative Industries
■Sponsored by Mercedes-Benz Japan, the Mercedes-Benz SLK with the exterior designed by the artist Tetsuya NAKAMURA will be exhibited at the ART FAIR TOKYO venue. (Supported by: GALLERY KOYANAGI)
■In collaboration with Japan Fashion Week Organization, a special booth will be set up for works of “SOMARTA,” by Tamae HIROKAWA.
3) Other Special Booths
■Works of “REBIRTH PROJECTS”, an organization led by Yusuke ISEYA, will be presented at a special booth.
■A special booth will be set up for works of an ultra technologists group, “TEAMLAB” (President: Toshiyuki INOKO).
Discover Asia
Aiming to achieve higher international standards and further improvements in the quality of the fair, Discover Asia welcomes Fumio NANJO (Director, Mori Art Museum) having our international vision of “Tokyo as a city within Asia”. In this section, prominent galleries from Asian major cities, such as Seoul, Taipei, and Beijing, will participate at ART FAIR TOKYO 2012 along with museums and Japanese galleries that have been receiving an international acclaim.
■Participating Galleries: ARARIO GALLERY (Cheonan/Beijing/Seoul), Chi-Wen Gallery (Taipei), ONE AND J. GALLERY (Seoul), PKM GALLERY (Seoul), Gallery Skape (Seoul), TKG+(Taipei/Beijing)
■In Cooperation with: Ullens Center for Contemporary Art , Mori Art Museum, TEAMLAB
*to be confirmed Vitamin Creative Space (Guangzhou/Beijing), Eslite Gallery (Taipei)
project in PROJECTS
This is a new section set up for exhibiting large-scale artworks and performances that cannot be shown within the confines of a regular booth. Artworks will be selected from galleries in the “PROJECTS” section.
■Participating Artists: Chin↑Pom (Project Fulfill Art Space In Cooperation with: Mujin-to Production), Fuyuki YAMAKAWA (SNOW Contemporary),HeathFRANCO (TristianKoenig),Yodogawa-Technique (YUKARIART),and more
Collaboration with Other Creative Industries
Since the launch in 2011 of “CREATIVE TOKYO” as a Cool Japan promotion program operated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the ART FAIR TOKYO Committee has been taking an active role in supporting them in their aim to firmly establish Tokyo as a creative hub in Asia, and ART FAIR TOKYO 2012 will be participating in “CREATIVE TOKYO”’s “TOKYO SPRING”, a platform promoting creative events in Tokyo. As a part of these efforts, ART FAIR TOKYO will launch the “TOKYO PREMIUM PROJECT” (TPP) in collaboration with Japan Restaurant Week Committee and Japan Fashion Week Organization. TPP will aim to link the best that Tokyo has to offer in terms of “Art”, “Food”, and “Fashion”.
■TOKYO SPRING press conference: Wed. February 8, 2012 Door opens: 15:00 Venue: Park Hotel Tokyo
Programs in Session
Idea & Thoughts
This year we will host a series of talk sessions and symposiums in cooperation with other organizations to explore the 2012 art world from different angles. The fair’s talk series will welcome Yuji YAMASHITA, who takes charge of supervising “ShuffleII” within Artistic Practices, to offer a definition of the beauty of Japan, and we are now making scheduling arrangements to hold several other symposiums to discuss the earthquake and art, and also to explore the potential for artist-in-residence programs.
■Dates: Sat. March 31, Sun. April 1, 2012
■Venue: Tokyo International Forum B2F, Exhibition Hall Seminar room *Approximately five talk sessions will be conducted.
Guided Tours
One of the unique characteristics of ART FAIR TOKYO is that it covers a wide range of artworks, from antiques to contemporary art. Guided by Arts Initiative Tokyo, the Educational Partner of ART FAIR TOKYO 2012, a tour will introduce a diverse range of artworks presented at the venue and explain how to look at and buy art.
■Date: Sun. April 1, 2012 Morning ~
■Venue: ART FAIR TOKYO 2012 venue
*Approximately four tours will be conducted.
Kids Program
In collaboration with Deutsche Bank Group, the Main Sponsor of ART FAIR TOKYO 2012, a workshop program for kids will be conducted by artists.
■Date: Sun. April 1, 2012
■Venue: Special designated booth within ART FAIR TOKYO 2012 venue
■Program Partner: <Artist for a day>
Special Video Program
This is a video screening program presenting chosen works of galleries based in East Asian regions.
■Date: Fri. March 30, 2012
■Venue:Tokyo International Forum B2F, Exhibition Hall Seminar room
Art @ Restaurants
In cooperation with Japan Restaurant Week Committee, we are now making arrangements to exhibit artworks selected from approximately 10 Japanese private collections at restaurants located around the ART FAIR TOKYO 2012 venue.
