Art Fair Tokyo 2018
I went to Art Fair Tokyo 2018.
Art Fair Tokyo 2018 is the largest art fair in Japan.
This time, satellite programs using venues such as Park Hotel Tokyo and 3331 Arts Chiyoda were held simultaneously, so I visited with high expectations.
From the opening-day preview, which was open only to AFT Card holders, the energy inside the venue was high, filling a space that was not all that large (I don’t remember exactly, but it gave the impression of being smaller than last year?).
3331 Art Fair
On March 7, 2018, the very first event to raise its curtain was held at 3331 Arts Chiyoda.
It is an event made up mainly of young artists, but it was quite crowded from day one.
With auction programs, talk sessions, and various other events overlapping one another, it gave the impression that everyone involved was working hard. The venue was lively and had quite a nice atmosphere. To put the conclusion first, this became the place that left the best impression on this writer.
I was also able to talk with some of the young artists, and I felt a real sense of potential in them, as if they are still about to spread their wings.
“ART in PARK HOTEL TOKYO 2018”
“ART in PARK HOTEL TOKYO 2018” (abbreviated AiPHT), held at Park Hotel Tokyo, is another interesting program. It is a project where you can enjoy an extraordinary feeling created by using the hotel’s rooms.
While they promote the branding of an art-conscious hotel, they used two floors — the 26th and 27th — as a private booking, rather than the 31st artist floor.
A total of 42 galleries (Tokyo: 16, outside Tokyo: 24, Taiwan: 1, Korea: 1) exhibited, and each room was gorgeously decorated with carefully devised display methods.
Under the concept of “a time and space where you can experience the Japanese sense of beauty,” Park Hotel Tokyo is developing art-conscious spaces throughout the building. Every guest room on the artist floor (31st floor) is an “artist room” with pictures painted directly on the walls, so that the room itself becomes a work of art.
Each gallery used its room with its own carefully devised ideas, and it was fun to look around.
Talking about the works inside a room also felt somewhat like a secret deal, giving a sense of the extraordinary.
https://art-on.jp/natsumi-tomita-nakazuri2018/
Its standing as an international art fair
This year’s Art Fair Tokyo ran from March 8 to March 11, 2018. At exactly the same time, an art fair was also being held in New York. It is “The Armory Show,” an event as large as Art Basel.
Because The Armory Show is such a huge art fair, only a small number of overseas galleries exhibit at Art Fair Tokyo. Almost all of Art Fair Tokyo’s visitors are domestic enthusiasts and industry insiders. That is only natural, since the works of world-class artists are in New York. As an international art fair, its position is still at a minor level. What’s more, another art fair called “art on paper 2018” was being held in New York at the same time. New York truly is a city of art.
Turning our eyes to Asia, the place where not only galleries but also renowned artists present their original new works is not Art Fair Tokyo. It is “Art Basel,” held in Hong Kong three weeks later. Art Basel is a huge event that dyes the whole city in art. When “Art Fair Tokyo 2018” is held at such a time, it makes me think they might do well to reconsider the timing. *Art Fair Tokyo is run by Dentsu, an advertising agency skilled at business.
Domestic galleries
Even looking domestically, the participation rate of the major galleries is by no means high.
Seen from a gallery’s point of view, Art Fair Tokyo is a paid event. Even a small booth costs at least about one million yen including various expenses. Whether that can be recouped through sales profits is honestly a difficult matter.
The honest picture is probably that galleries treat it as promotion for themselves and their represented artists, having resigned themselves to running at a loss. I won’t name names, but if you look into it you should notice that the names of several leading galleries are not credited.
Summary
Despite being the largest art fair in Japan, the situation is one where major galleries don’t even give it a glance and instead turn their eyes overseas. Unless the domestic art world builds up the momentum to come together and lift it up, I feel the message will struggle to reach ordinary consumers.
“Art Fair Tokyo 2018,” which contains both shadow and light. Like it or not, it is the largest art fair event in Japan. Even from different standpoints, I hope each of the people involved in art can shape it into the next great future!
Overview
Art Fair Tokyo 2018
Venue: Tokyo International Forum, Hall E & Lobby Gallery
Ticket: 1-Day Passport (advance 3,000 yen / same-day 3,500 yen)
Dates and times
Press view
March 8 (Thu) 13:00 – 14:00
Private view
March 8 (Thu) 14:00 – 16:00
Vernissage
March 8 (Thu) 16:00 – 20:00
Public view
March 9 (Fri) 11:00-20:00
March 10 (Sat) 11:00-20:00
March 11 (Sun) 11:00-17:00
