Contemporary Art Foundation (CAF)
The “Contemporary Art Foundation (public interest incorporated foundation), hereafter CAF” is an organization founded by ZOZOTOWN’s President Maezawa.
CAF’s purpose is to contribute to the promotion of contemporary art by conducting activities to popularize it — such as holding contemporary art exhibitions — in order to raise knowledge and appreciation of contemporary art, and by supporting young artists and young musicians to help improve their skills.
The CAF Award
And the “CAF Award,” created in line with that purpose, is an art award aimed at nurturing young artists, open to students of high schools, universities, graduate schools, and vocational schools. It began in 2014, and this 2017 edition marks its fourth.
The Grand Prize of the 3rd edition went to Yoshiki Omote (Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School). Yukimasa Ida, an artist I have my eye on, is also among the names that received an Award of Excellence.
The 4th CAF Award — Selected Artists
The following are the 16 student artists selected for the 4th CAF Award. The Grand Prize and other awards will be chosen from among them.
Yusuke Oiwa (Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School)
Saya Okubo (Kyoto University of Art and Design, Graduate School)
Harumi Osawa (Tokyo University of the Arts)
Satoshi Onari (Jan Evangelista Purkyně University, Graduate School)
Itsuki Kaido (Kyoto City University of Arts, Graduate School)
Shoma Kimura (Kyoto City University of Arts)
Yukiko Kimura (Tama Art University)
Shiori Koyama (Kyoto University of Art and Design, Graduate School)
Yuji Suga (Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School)
Seiko Hihara (Academy of Fine Arts, Prague)
MA JIAHAO (Tama Art University)
Takanosuke Yasui (Tokyo University of the Arts)
Atsuko Yamashita (Tokyo University of the Arts)
Yang Tuya (Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School)
Aiko Yuno (Kyoto University of Art and Design, Graduate School)
Takumi Watanuki (Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences)
The Works
As you’d expect from students, many of the works had a youthful feel.
Each one showed its own individuality, and they all seemed to be striving desperately to push their own colors to the fore.
Special Exhibition
Five works were lined up in the special exhibition corner.
CHRISTOPHER WOOL「Untitled」
MARK GROTJAHN「Untitled（Blue Butterfly Dark to Light Ⅳ」
MARK GROTJAHN「Untitled(Pink Cosco Ⅱ Mask M40.c」
JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT「Untitled」
ANDY WARHOL「Flowers」
JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT「Untitled」— as for the Basquiat display, I’ve put it together on the next page. Wow, it was incredible…
Summary
If nothing else, the sheer presence of a Basquiat work — shown in Japan for the first time — makes this an exhibition worth seeing.
And with Maezawa, whose lovely self-given title is “Art Lover,” you can strongly feel his intent coming through; the atmosphere is wonderfully warm.
I think the thoughtfulness and the mindset behind bringing a Basquiat to this exhibition for the sake of contemporary artists is truly wonderful. The fact that he is letting us see a Basquiat work — pouring considerable money into security and venue costs — struck me as a stance to be proud of as a Japanese person.
