YOKOHAMA 2005: International Triennale of Contemporary Art
Art Circus (Jumping from the Ordinary)
September 28 – December 18, 2005
info [at] yokohama2005.jp
www.yokohamatriennale.jp
Yokohama’s second International Triennale of Contemporary Art – builds on the success of YOKOHAMA 2001 and will feature the work of around 80 participating international and Japanese artists exhibiting in the main venue – two enormous warehouses located on Yamashita Pier. The Triennale offers an alternative to the conventional style of art exhibition in which the observer simply looks at the works, instead offering a dialogue-based exhibition in which the barrier between the observer and the exhibitor is transcended, with the observer present during the artist’s creative process and being able to actually experience the work.
The venue will be defined as a place where – even after the opening of the exhibition – something is always happening, often simultaneously, so that visitors see “the exhibition” as an aggregate of all of these elements. Like a circus, all sorts of things will come jumping out onto “the stage” in quick succession, coming together in front of the audience to offer observers a range of experiences. The Second Yokohama Triennale presents the exhibition as the embodiment of dynamism.
“Art Circus (Jumping from the Ordinary)”
The theme of YOKOHAMA 2005 is “Art Circus (Jumping from the Ordinary).” What kind of people and what kind of ideas and concepts generate and produce art? In what ways does art penetrate our lives? And what are the changes that take place as a result? One of the aims of YOKOHAMA 2005 is to reconsider and reevaluate the function of art and the power of art in modern society.
Today, artists the world over are examining their place in the world and continue to take significant jumps in their avenues of expression – it is these very jumps in creativity that represent hope for the world.
Through YOKOHAMA 2005, we would like to introduce the inherent function and thrill of contemporary art – the enhancement of our sensibilities and challenges to our values – something that is becoming lost in our everyday lives.
The exhibition will be presented as a venue for communication rather than simply a site for visitors to observe the works on display. Several keywords that sum up the theme of the Second Yokohama Triennale are as follows:
Developing and Changing (A work-in-progress)
There is something always going on at the Triennale. People making multiple visits to the Triennale will notice, each time, that the works on exhibit have undergone some sort of change. The works in this exhibition will continue to develop and change. A work of art is seen as being something that is variable and that undergoes transformation as a result of its relationship with time and the community.
Involvement with the site (Site-specific interaction)
From observing a work to experiencing that work.
Encouraging people to experience a work rather than simply observing it.
For this to happen, the observer must be able to catch a glimpse of the actual work being created on site. Such a site will be established during the Triennale, with ongoing workshops where many can participate in the creative process.
Collaboration with others (Collaborative works)
The Buren Cirque – a circus that represents collaboration with an artist – is coming to the Yokohama Triennale. This will be an opportunity for visitors to see a new type of circus that has been “styled by art.” In addition, the Triennale will feature a range of different community workshops with the aim of realizing an exhibition that is accessible by everyone. An open-air cafe a food and drink stall, a merchandise outlet and a resource center (an archives room featuring a collection of resources, including catalogues, on artists will be available for viewing by members of the public).
It is our hope that YOKOHAMA 2005 will establish, here in Japan, the foundation for a new type of art scene that will then spread to other countries.
Period
September 28 (Wed.) – December 18 (Sun.), 2005
Venue
Yamashita Pier No.3 Warehouse, No.4 Warehouse, and etc. , Yokohama, Japan
Artistic Director
Tadashi Kawamata – Visual artist, Professor of Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music
Curators
Taro Amano — Curator of the Yokohama Museum of Art
Takashi Serizawa — Director of P3 art and environment, Tokyo
Shingo Yamano — Committee Chairperson for the Museum City Project, Fukuoka
Artists (first 15 artists as of January 2005)
Daniel Buren, Luc Deleu, L’ Estacio, Cie ETOKAN Buren Cirque, Keiichi Ikemizu, Kim Sora, Eriko Momotani, Yoshitomo Nara + graf, Tazro Niscino, Navin Rawanchikul, Maria Roosen, Joep Van Lieshout, Richard Wilson, Wolfgang Winter and Berthold Hrbelt, Tomoko Yoneda + Ashiya City Museum of Art & History + Tomato
Organizers
The Japan Foundation , City of Yokohama, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), The Asahi Shimbun, The Organizing Committee for Yokohama Triennale
Artistic Director
Tadashi Kawamata
Born in Hokkaido, Japan, in 1953. Withdrew from the doctorial course of the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music in 1984. Since first exhibiting his work in 1977, he has participated in, as well as undertaken, a large number of projects and exhibitions in Japan and abroad, including Venice Biennale (1982); Documenta 8 (1987); Sao Paulo Biennale (1987); Documenta 9 (1992); Lyon Biennial (1993); Exhibition for the 50th anniversary of the United Nations, Geneva (1995); Sculpture Projects, Mnster (1997); 11th Biennale of Sydney(1998); Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial (2000-); 4th Shanghai Biennale (2002); Busan Biennale (2002); Valencia Biennale (2003). He also serves as professor in Inter Media Art Course, the Faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music in 1999.
Although the majority of Tadashi Kawamata’ s exhibitions have been overseas, he has been simultaneously involved in a long-term, locally-oriented project based in a mining town.
Kawamata proposes and practices a form of localization that examines the extent to which international activities can be enhanced locally.
Contact
The Organizaing Committee for Yokohama Triennale
e-mail: press@yokohama2005.jp
info@yokohama2005.jp
official website : www.yokohamatriennale.jp
Tokyo: tel. +81-(0)3-5562-3531 / fax. +81-(0)3-5562-3528
