VOCA 2019 “The Vision of Contemporary Art — New Artists of Two-Dimensional Works”
I visited “VOCA 2019” at The Ueno Royal Museum.
“VOCA 2019,” venue: The Ueno Royal Museum
For VOCA, the exhibition’s executive committee invites museum curators, journalists, and researchers from across Japan to nominate young artists under 40, and the nominated artists then submit new two-dimensional works — a format designed to surface previously unknown talent from every corner of the country.
Award-winning Works
Here are the six award-winning works from this edition.
VOCA Prize Shinnosuke Tojo, “Copy of What Must Be on the Walls of Athens, Nagano, and Tokyo” Rust, pigment, oil paint, acrylic, stencil, transfer, on steel plate. 230 x 369 cmShinnosuke Tojo, “Copy of What Must Be on the Walls of Athens, Nagano, and Tokyo” (detail)VOCA Encouragement Prize Ayako Ishiba, “2 and 3, or Something Else (Grandmother’s House)” Inkjet print, frame. 107 x 76.8 x 3.5 cm, four piecesVOCA Encouragement Prize Jung Yugyeong, “Let’s all go to the celebration square of victory!” Acrylic on canvas. 223 x 330 x 6 cmHonorable Mention: Kaoru Endo, “Waste Cloths.” Cleaning rags. 240 x 390 x 20 cmHonorable Mention: mé, “Acrylic Gas.” Resin, acrylic, and other materials. 170 x 170 x 19 cm
The work has notable three-dimensionality. I’ve captured it on video as well.
Ohara Museum of Art Prize Mika Kitamura, “TOPOS.” Inkjet print. 120 x 180 x 5 cm, two pieces
Other Exhibited Works
Here are the other exhibited works.
Takashi Arai, “Monuments to the Daigo Fukuryu Maru’s Crew Bedding: A. Multi-focal Monument to ‘The Crew’s Bedding’; B. Monument to Matashichi Oishi, Former Crew Member of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru; C. Matashichi Oishi, Former Crew Member of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru”Wataru Ishigaki, “Ruts on the Snow — Beyond.” Paper, transparent watercolor, opaque watercolor, paper powder, nikawa glue, aluminum leafYukari Ohira, “Reborn.” Pigment, foil, and other materials on panelNoriko Okaku, “From where you are.” Watercolor, glue, wax crayon, laser print, on paper
You can view linked video content via the QR code embedded in the work.
Noriko Okaku, “From where you are” (detail)Takayuki Okamoto, “Transient Microscopic Nova #16,” “Transient Microscopic Nova #17,” “Transient Microscopic Nova #18” Archival pigment print, aluminumTatsuki Katayama, “From the Joints: With Grandmother / With Grandfather / With Grandfather / With Grandmother / With Father / With Older Brother / With Mother.” Photographic inkjet print, frame (ash wood, glass)Erika Kusumi, “Metropolis.” LightJet print (acrylic mount)KOURYOU, “Split Device at Our Feet (Blueprints and Models for the App-version ‘Fox Case Files’ Development)” 1) Wood, wire, urethane resin, polyester putty, acrylic sheet, fabric, plastic, watercolor, acrylic, pen, and others 2) Panel, paper, watercolor, acrylic, pen, and othersInstallation viewNao Sano, “icon.” Acrylic, oil on cotton, panelHaruyuki Shirai, “panoramas.” Pigment printKohei Sekigawa, “Along with the Song.” Wooden building blocksTomomitsu Tada, “To Exist (Blessing and the Eternal Moment).” Acrylic on canvasKotaro Tategami, “To the Cabaret.” Oil on paper, canvasShingo Tanaka, “re:trans-lation.” Wood (plywood, timber)
Takeshi Tanaka, “The Metaphor of Flowers, the Metaphor of Storms.” Acrylic on Kochi hemp paperYuki Teshima, “A Certain Landscape.” Oil on cottonMugi Nakajima, “luminous dropping.” Acrylic on canvasAsuka Nakayama, “eruption.” Oil on canvasYu Nishimura. Left: “Arabesque,” oil on canvas. Right: “Flower,” acrylic on canvasYoshii Hori, “shuttles (F [flower]) / shuttles (E [ear]).” Oil on canvasToshihiko Mitsuya, “Dream #4.” Stainless steelKyoko Miwa, “Happy Mark Drawing.” Pen, pastel, on paperShinnosuke Tojo, winner of the VOCA Prize
Of the 33 works exhibited, nine were photographic works.
The show also featured a diverse array of practices — mixed techniques, works incorporating video, and more.
The painterly, large-scale works of the past have receded, and I could sense the current of a new era.
![Yoshii Hori, "shuttles (F [flower]) / shuttles (E [ear])." Oil on canvas](https://art-on.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019VOCA19.jpg)
