Dojima River Biennale 2011 will be held this summer at the Dojima River Forum. It is the second event in the series, following the success of the first Biennale in 2009. By linking art with many other areas, it promises to bring new horizons for art into sight.

The first Biennale had the theme of "Reflection: The World Through Art," with Nanjo Fumio, Director of the Mori Art Museum as Art Director. Presenting art from around the world that addressed issues faced by our global society—including financial crises, regional conflicts, and poverty—it successfully drew public attention to these issues.

For the second Biennale, the title is "ECOSOPHIA." Iida Takayo, Chief Curator of the Aomori Museum of Art, has been appointed Artistic Director. The triple disasters that occurred in Japan in March of this year have provided a powerful impetus for a serious review of how we think about our earth. Based on a theme of Architecture & Art, the Biennale has become a venue for examining this vital issue from three perspectives—the natural environment, the social environment, and human psychology.

The "ECOSOPHIA" title embodies the sense of a planet where "eco" philosophy is put into practice. It presents visions of an earth looking toward the future, considered in terms of the "Terrestrial Realm," the "Realm of Water," and the "Realm of Air." The whole venue will be transformed into a space that points to new perspectives on nature and new images of our earth.

Media inquiries concerning "Dojima River Biennale 2011—ECOSOPHIA" are very welcome. Please see below for contact details.
- Furukubo Hikari (Producer, Dojima River Forum(

"Ecosophia" Concept
In Japan, people have always aimed to live in harmony with nature, rather than fighting nature. However, today's increasingly globalized world focuses excessively on the pursuit of economic efficiency and the achievement of uniform standards. It is precisely because of these circumstances that architecture and art have a vital role to play today by creating new aesthetic values.

The aim of this biennale is to communicate the practice of ecosophy—proposed by French philosopher Félix Guattari—within the context of the role of the architect and artist. Ecosophy is a neologism based on the idea that the concept of ecology should not be restricted to the environment, but should be considered at emotional and social levels, too. Under this approach, the real response to environmental crisis should be to perceive the crisis within a global context and to reestablish targets for the production of tangible and intangible assets, so that cultural activities transcend conventional norms. This shift in perception results in cultural activities that are not only relevant in relation to the obvious powers that be, but which also have relevance to sensibility, intellect, and desire.

By linking architects and artists with society, the Biennale represents the first step into three ecological spheres—environmental, social, and mental.
- Iida Takayo, Artistic Director