Ghibli Great Exhibition: from Nausicaä to The Red Turtle

A reconstruction of the battleship from Castle in the Sky

For Studio Ghibli's 30th anniversary, an exhibition of rare Ghibli-related items, from its 1984 hit Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind to its most recent release The Red Turtle, is being held at the Mori Art Museum in Roppongi until September 11.

The seemingly haphazard way the exhibition is non-chronologically arranged is consciously intended, Ghibli producer Suzuki Toshio explained in an interview with nippon.com. The exhibition tries to recreate the experience of extracting memories arranged in a filmgoer's mind. The exhibition was based from the exhibitions held in Aichi and Niigata Prefectures in 2015 but a section on The Red Turtle, which is scheduled for release on September 17, is added to the present exhibition.

The displays showcase around 2,500 items related to the films released in the past 30 years, with a large volume composed of promotional items like flyers and posters. The invitation sent by the Academy Awards to Studio Ghibli for its Awarding Ceremony in 2001 is exhibited for all visitors to see. Of course, displayed beside it is the signature golden trophy of the Academy Awards won by Spirited Away for Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards, making it the only hand-drawn Japanese film to win a Best Animated Film award.

Other highlights of the exhibition include a life-sized Totoro behind a counter greeting the visitors upon entry, a Cat Bus where visitors can have their pictures taken (but there is always a long line in this section so you would only be allowed to pose for a few seconds, so make sure you give it your best shot!) and a reconstruction of the battleship from Castle in the Sky before you exit. 

This is indeed a must-see for Ghibli fans who would like to trace the 30-year history of the studio and marvel at the authentic old posters and previously unseen and unreleased sketches of Ghibli characters and scenes. The lack of English translation of the description of the items can be a turn off at some points (knowing that Mori Art Museum usually puts them but why not in this exhibit). The exhibition would have been more fun if visitors could actually understand the historical significance of the specific objects in Ghibli's long history but this is not a distraction that should put off a real Ghibli fan from seeing what other things the exhibition has to offer. 

Established and Emerging: A Fine Mix at the Tokyo International Art Fair 2016

Photo from the official website of the Tokyo International Art Fair 2016. Article was originally published in the June 2016 issue of the Filipino-Japanese Journal.

 

            The Tokyo International Art Fair (TIAF), organized by the Global Art Agency, welcomed more than eight thousand art collectors and enthusiasts during its two-day event at Omotesando Hills last May 13-14. The event allowed its visitors to enter the event for free and marvel on an exquisite collection of paintings, sculptures, photography art, illustrations and multimedia artworks by both established and emerging artists. The venue, Space-O Hall, was carefully designed to host 150exhibitors from 30 countries.

A Fine Mix of Art and Artists

            TIAF, now on its second year, was bigger and better not only because of the overwhelming turnout of visitors but also because of the amazing mix of big names and emerging artists who participated this year. Some of the familiar names were Thierry Guetta, more popularly known as Mr. Brainwash, who once collaborated with pop star Madonna; Shane Bowden, lovlingly referred to as “Andy Warhol on Steroids” and is famous for his silkscreen popart; and multi-awarded artist Michael Lam, who is known for his single stroke paintings and his work with UNICEF. Some artists from the Philippines, Sio Montero of Qube Gallery and Roberto Nolascoof KulayDiwa Gallery, also participated in the event.

NataleVallve, one of the organizers, described this fine mix of artists in an article posted on the TIAF official website, as a glimpse of what is happening in the contemporary art world. Vallve explained that artists from different countries embody different styles and concepts reflecting the places they came from. These represent different unique “personalities of the world.”

Filipino Art at the TIAF

            Sio Montero referred to his art as“process-oriented abstraction.” His experiements with industrial construction techniques and processes beautifully translate sights, sounds, interaction and experiences to canvas using acrylic and non-traditional media. Montera has spent more than a decade as a full-time Associate Professor for the Fine Arts Program of the University of the Philippines. He also pioneered community art development activities and projects with the help of some local organizations.

Another exhibitor was Roberto Nolasco, owner and manager of Kulay-Diwa Gallery. Kulay is a Tagalog word meaning “color” and Diwa meaning “spirit” or “thought.”The gallery showcased contemporary art from the Philippines and other Southeast Asian Countries. It’s aim is to foster a cultural interaction and exchanges among the countries in the region as well as with those on the other parts of the world.

Global Art Agency Awards

            TIAF capped its first day with a special paid event that allowed collectors a

first peek of the art works while sipping a glass of champagne. The second day closed with the awarding ceremony of the Global Art Agency Awards. August Vilella from Barcelona won first prize for the Global Art Award; second Prize went to Sezon Art Gallery from Tokyo; and third prize to Shingo420, also from Tokyo. The Facebook Competition winner was Babtiste Tavernier, who was chosen by the public on social media.The first prize for the Global Art Best Exhibitor Awards went to New York Art Gallery (Shane Bowden / Mr. Brainwash); second prize to Krystal Glam Gallery; and third prize to Chi Hang Wong. The Facebook Comptetition winner for this category went to Michael Volpicelli.

            Tokyo International Art Fair 2016 did not only provided a platform for both established and emerging artists to exhibit their works side by side but it also allowed the showcase of well-known art techniques as well as experimental styles in creating art at its finest. Interested art collectors and enthusiasts can check the details for TIAF 2017 on their website at tokyoartfair.com.

Takashi Murakami's The 500 Arhats Exhbit

The exhibit runs from October 31, 2015 to March 6, 2016 at the Mori Art Museum, Roppongi Hills.

The 500 Arhats

The exhibit runs from October 31, 2015 to March 6, 2016 at the Mori Art Museum, Roppongi Hills.

The exhibit runs from October 31, 2015 to March 6, 2016 at the Mori Art Museum, Roppongi Hills.

The exhibit runs from October 31, 2015 to March 6, 2016 at the Mori Art Museum, Roppongi Hills.

Yoko Ono: From my Window Exhibit

The works of Yoko One were exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo from November 8, 2015 to February 14, 2015. The exhibit was curated by Naoko Seki.

Entrance to the exhibit

Excerpt from the exhibit information kit:

For sixty years, Yoko Ono (1933-) has freely worked across numerous fields, connecting disparate nodes and producing new creative circuits among people and media. Although Ono has usually been discussed in the context of post-war American art, this exhibition will place her art in the context of her native Tokyo. Through materials documenting her early pieces, artworks she created in Tokyo in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, and recent works and installations, it show will reveal how Ono’s activities link the modern and contemporary; Europe, Japan, and the United States; art, music and literature; avant-garde and popular culture; society and the individual. As a pioneer of conceptual art that took her distinctive approach to words and language as its nucleus, Ono at times turned people's attention to serious issues using humor and other strategies. This exhibition will offer an excellent opportunity to look back from our perspective today at Yoko Ono’s development in a remarkably international environment in Tokyo.

Souvenir postcard of Yoko Ono's work

The exhibit is divided in four parts as described below:

One. In the 1990s, Ono resumed her activities in art with violence and the memories it creates as her new themes. She drew inspiration from her personal life as well as in wars and conflicts that were prevailing in the world that time. Her work Crickets, she created insect cages with names of cities and the dates when a violent incident happened in that place.

Two. It was not until 1969 that Ono returned her attention to Tokyo after concentrating her activities in New York and London. In collaboration with John Lennon, whom she married that year, she organized a billboard campaign called War is Over! in 12 cities worldwide including Tokyo. A group of people gathered at the Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall and marched to Tokyo Station holding posters with the slogan. During this period, she not only focused on anti-war protests but also campaigned for women's issues. She composed songs to promote women's rights. She also performed with the Plastic Ono Band at the One-Step Concert, an event advocating for the environment.

Three. Ono returned to Japan in 1962 long after she began her concerts and exhibits in New York. She held Works of Ono at the Sogetsu Art Center where Instructions for Painting was exhibited in its lobby and several events where conducted at the center's hall. These instructions are also exhibited in the current installation.

Four. Born in 1933, Yoko Ono crossed the Pacific Ocean twice as a young child due to her father's work. Her family returned to Tokyo shortly before Japan declared war against the Allied nations. She spent the following ten years in Tokyo and departed for the US in 1952. She received music education at Jiyu Gakuen where she learned to appreciate everyday sounds as much as those of musical instruments.

*Source: Yoko One: From my Window information kit

Art Overdose: Art Fair Tokyo 2014

***originally published in the May Issue of Pinoy Gazette

Also published on Pinoy Gazette`s official blog: pinoygazetteofficial.blogspot.jp

Kuha ni Munetoshi Iwashita

Noong nakaraang buwan ay ginanap ang pinakamalaking art event sa Tokyo na pinakaaabangan hindi lamang ng art collectors at professional artists, kundi pati na rin ng mga nag-aasam gumuhit at mga gusto lamang makakita at mamangha sa iba't ibang klase ng malikhaing gawa. 

Ang Art Fair Tokyo 2014 na ginanap sa Tokyo International Forum ay nilahukan ng mahigit-kumulang 180 galleries, organizations at sponsors mula sa 28 siyudad sa Japan at iba pang bahagi ng mundo. Kabilang ang Embahada ng Pilipinas sa mga sumuporta sa event na ito. Sa nakaraang walong taon ng Art Fair, ito ang unang pagkakataon na mayroong lumahok na gallery mula sa Pilipinas. 

Dumalo ang ilang mahahalagang tao tulad ni Unang Ginang Akie Abe, maybahay ni Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, sa Kagami-biraki sake cask ceremony, na opisyal na nagbukas sa Art Fair. Sa loob ng apat na magkakasunod na araw ay itinampok sa Art Fair ang iba't ibang klase ng gawa, nasa linya man ng fine arts o applied arts kabilang dito ang Nihongo o Japanese-style painting, Yoga o Japanese oil painting, contemporary art, media art, pop art, mga litrato, at ilang antique at handicraft. Nagkaroon din ng mga panayam tungkol sa woodblock prints at media art. Nagsagawa rin ng guided tours para sa ilang mga bisita. 

Bukod sa indibidwal na mga gallery na nagpakita ng gawa ng kanilang mga sariling artists, ilan sa mga highlights ng Art Fair ay ang sumusunod:

Discovering Asia. Sa section na ito nakibahagi ang ilang mga gallery mula sa Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia at Pilipinas upang ipakita ang mga gawa mula sa kanilang mga bansa kabilang dito ang 1335 Mabini na mula sa Pilipinas. Sila ang kauna-unahang Filipino gallery na nakilahok sa Art Fair.

Artistic Practice. Ang section na ito ay may temang “Modernity, Created by Japan” na siyang kinabibilangan ng mga modern painting na nagpapakita ng pagbabago sa tema at technique sa pagguhit ng isang bagong henerasyon ng Japanese artists. Kabilang ang ilan sa mga gawa nina Kaoru Yamaguchi, Soutaro Yasui, at Ryuzaburo Umezawa sa ipinakita sa Art Fair.

Tokyo Unlimited. Sa bahaging ito ipinakita ang iba't ibang applied art tulad ng handicrafts, pottery, ceramics at alahas. Ilan sa mga gallery na nakibahagi ay ang Toyama Glass Studio, gallery deux poissons, O-Jewel at Kanazawa Utatsuyama Kogei Kubo.

Art, Media and I, Tokyo. Kapansin-pansin kamakailan ang pagiging popular ng media art kung saan gumagamit ang mga artists ng kanilang sariling sistema, device at medium ng paggawa ng painting na iba kaysa sa pangkaraniwang ginagamit. Ang section na ito ay may layuning ipakita kung paano ang mga media art na gawang Hapon ay higit na maipapakilala sa global art market. Tampok sa exhibit na ito ang mga gawa ng ShimuraBros at nina Yuko Mohri, at Lyota Yagi.

Total Recall - Works of Mitsutoshi Hanaga (1959-1999). Itinatampok sa bahaging ito ang mga larawang kinuhanan ni Mitsutoshi Hanaga mula 1959-1999 na nagtatampok ng mga aktibidades ng mga avante-gard Japanese artists tulad ng grupong Hi-Red Center at nina Tetsumi Kudo, Akaji Maro at kanji Ito.

Pap-Aki Cafe Project. Gamit sa munting cafe na ito ang mga upuan at lamesa na gawa sa makakapal na karton na ginuhitan ng matitingkad na larawan ni Aki Kondo. 

Dinaluhan ang Art Fair ng halos 50,000 bisita mula sa iba't ibang panig ng Japan at ng mundo. Umabot rin ng halos isang bilyong yen ang halaga ng mga art pieces na naibenta sa loob ng apat na araw ng Art Fair. Patunay lamang ang ika-siyam na taon ng Art Fair Tokyo sa patuloy na pagiging globally competitive ng bansa at higit na nagkakaroon ng mataas na value ang mga malikhaing gawa mula sa Asya.