STARS: Six Contemporary Artists from Japan to the World
“STARS: Six Contemporary Artists from Japan to the World,” a special exhibition by six artists who enjoy broad international acclaim across diverse regions and generations, will be held.
The venue is Mori Art Museum (Roppongi), and the run is from Thursday, April 23 to Sunday, September 6, 2020.
Timed to coincide with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, this exhibition brings together six artists based in Japan. It should serve as a powerful cultural — as well as sporting — statement to visitors coming to Japan from overseas.
Participating Artists
The six participating artists are as follows (in Japanese syllabary order).
- Yayoi Kusama
- Lee Ufan
- Tatsuo Miyajima
- Takashi Murakami
- Yoshitomo Nara
- Hiroshi Sugimoto
Four Highlights of the Exhibition
(1) Six world-recognized stars shining brilliantly in Japan’s contemporary art scene — their early and most recent works on display
Each artist’s works from the period when they gained international recognition are shown side by side with their most recent or newly-produced works in their own dedicated exhibition spaces. This is a spectacular, overwhelming exhibition bringing together superstar artists in a single venue.
(2) An introduction to “Japanese contemporary art” that is recommended even for newcomers
Large-scale installations, powerful video works, and other experience-focused displays are combined with archival displays that trace the history of Japanese contemporary art and each artist’s career — stimulating both the senses and the intellect. The museum, as a real space, provides a hands-on encounter that only contemporary art can offer.
(3) Archival Display, Part 1 — The Artists’ Activity Histories
Through archival materials such as major exhibition histories, catalogs, installation photographs, and exhibition reviews, this section explores how each of the six artists has been evaluated on the world stage.
(4) Archival Display, Part 2 — “50 Exhibitions” of Japanese Contemporary Art Held Overseas
Fifty exhibitions of Japanese contemporary art held overseas since 1950 are selected and introduced along with overviews of each show and precious original materials including installation photos and contemporaneous critiques. How did organizers and curators try to convey “Japan”? And how was it received? Some of the materials include harsh critiques, showing that the journey was not always smooth sailing. This section unravels the history of how Japanese contemporary art has been received overseas.
Featured Works
Below are works planned for exhibition by the participating artists.
Installation view: Art House Project “Kadoya,” Benesse Art Site Naoshima (Kagawa), 1998. Photo: Norihiro Ueno
Synthetic resin, lacquer paint, fiberglass, iron, Corian (pedestal), 181 × 61 × 102.5 cm
Mixed media, 476 × 354 × 495 cm. Production cooperation: graf
Collection: 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. Photo: Atsushi Nakamichi / Nacása & Partners
This is a lavish special exhibition bringing together contemporary art masters who stand at the very forefront of the field.
We eagerly await its 2020 opening as one of the most anticipated exhibitions of the year.
Overview
STARS: Six Contemporary Artists from Japan to the World
Venue: Mori Art Museum
Dates: Thursday, April 23 – Sunday, September 6, 2020
Hours: 10:00-22:00 (Tuesdays only until 17:00) *Last admission 30 minutes before closing. However, Tuesday, May 5 open until 22:00
Closed: Open throughout the run
Admission (tax included): Adults 1,800 yen; Students (high school / college) 1,200 yen; Children (age 4 – junior high school) 600 yen; Seniors (65+) 1,500 yen
