Press

　

　

November 16, 2020
Kyoto Prefecture/Art Collaboration Kyoto Executive Committee

Press Release

　
Kyoto to host one of Japan’ s largest contemporary art fairs.
53 galleries from around the world to participate. Leading galleries from Japan
and abroad will exhibit in shared booths.
Taking place in a unique exhibition hall rich in variation and movement that will allow for new encounters with each of the artworks on display. Tickets on sale from December 1.
　

Kyoto Prefecture (Governor Takatoshi Nishiwaki) and Art Collaboration Kyoto Executive Commit- tee (Office: Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City; Chairman: Katsuhiko Inagaki, Director General of Department of Culture and Sports, Kyoto Prefecture; hereinafter “ACK Executive Committee”) is pleased to announce details for Art Collaboration Kyoto (hereinafter “ACK”,) a large-scale art fair specialized in contemporary art, to be held in February of 2021 at Kyoto International Conference Center. This announcement includes information such as a list of 53 participating galleries and images of the exhibition hall. (Please refer to Reference Material 1 for an overview.)

With the current COVID-19 situation, it has become difficult for galleries overseas to travel to Japan to participate. However, with mutual cooperation based on the long-standing relationships between the galleries in Japan and overseas, it has become possible to exhibit artworks of those overseas galleries. Now more than ever with the restrictions on global travel, ACK strives to maintain a site for international exchange through the arts and to provide an enjoyable opportuni- ty for visitors to peruse and purchase works of art.

ACK tickets will go on sale from December 1 at 10:00(JST,) and purchases can be made online at www.a-c-k.jp. In the prevention of the spre ad of COVID-19, all visitors will be required to purchase timed tickets online. The venue’ s capacity will be limited during this fair.

In addition, there will be related programming that will be supported in part by ACK, to take place in Kyoto during the art fair. (Please refer to Reference Material 2.) There will be events and programs that provide an opportunity for visitors to see at once a wide range of art, from contemporary art to traditional crafts, from established to budding artists, and for Kyoto to be livened up by art. One such programming will take place in a historic building, allowing for the visitors to experience time and space that is unique to Kyoto.
　
　

　
　

Overview of Art Collaboration Kyoto
　

1. About the Participating Galleries
There will be two dedicated sections, titled “Gallery Collaboration” and “Kyoto Meetings.” There will be 53 participating galleries and 32 booths. For a complete list of the participating galleries, please refer to Reference Material 3; for a closer look at some of the participating galleries, please see Reference Material 4.
　

About “Gallery Collaborations”
In this section, there will be 22 Japanese galleries that welcome 23 galleries from around the world (10 from Europe, 7 from Asia, 6 from North and South Americas) to share the booths.
With a total of 45 participating galleries and 22 booths composed of co-starring hosts and guests, world-class contemporary art will be presented to the domestic and international audience.
　

About “Kyoto Meetings”
In this section, 8 Japanese galleries will introduce a total of 17 artists with connections to Kyoto in a solo exhibition or a themed group exhibition. From 10 booths, we will show contemporary art from Kyoto to the world.
　

　

2. Tickets
Available for purchase from Tuesday, December 1, 2020, 10:00 (JST)
Early Bird Offer:
Adults ¥2,500
Students (high school and university) ¥1,000
From February 2021, tickets will be sold at regular prices:
Adults ¥3,000
Students (high school and university) ¥1,500

All visitors are required to purchase advance tickets online. (With timed entry and limited capacity.)
For more information, please visit the website: www.a-c-k.jp
　

　

3. Exhibition Hall

　
In the exhibition hall, exhibition booths of various sizes will be arranged in a seemingly random manner. However, each booth is intentionally distanced from the other booths and is designed so that exhibits will not interfere with each other. In contrast to the traditional art fair where one has to attempt to see as much as possible within a limited timeframe, this design takes root from the idea that the exhibition space should “allow for the works to be exhibited in their true, desired form andmanner” and “be a space of encounter where visitors can see and discover works on their own accord.”
There will also be a wide variety in the use of non-booth spaces, such as plaza-like spaces and back alleys in areas between the booths. In such spaces, guests can get coffee, participate in events, and see other exhibits, and spend time that is different from what they can experience in the exhibition booths. We hope that not only the exhibition booths—where the collaboration between Japanese and overseas galleries transpire— but that the entire venue will provide a space enriched by the collaboration of all participants and exhibited works, and that it will be a place where everyone will enjoy art.
Spatial design by Takashi Suo, SUO
　

　

4. Logo

　
　

　

　

“In this world today, where a wide variety of conditions and states exist, a certain type of resilience to change is desired of its graphic system.” Born out of such ideas, the logo for this fair was created in collaboration by the graphic design, architecture, and web teams to seam- lessly connect the physical space to the digital space, while also being capable of making changes where necessary.
　

　

　

Measures Against COVID-19

Due to the effects of COVID-19, many individuals and groups involved in the cultural arts have suffered financial losses through postponement or cancellation, making it difficult to continue their activities.Now in this age where a new lifestyle is being sought out, through this event, we strive to create a sustainable ecosystem for cultural arts and economy that will overcome such difficulties and explore how cultural support can function in this age of coronavirus.
ACK Executive Committee will practice a thorough implementation of preventative measures against COVID-19 per various guidelines. We will secure the safety of the visitors, galleries, and fair staff, and ensure the utmost consideration so that all parties involved will participate with ease. Please note that due to the latest conditions and in prioritizing the safety of the visitors, there may be changes to the fair format and exhibitors, exhibition content, and other details announced in this press release.
　

　

　

For further inquires

Press Inquiries
ACK Executive Office
Press Relations: Shimabayashi (Mr.) (Start PR) Phone: +81 80 6589 1234 Email: press@2021.a-c-k.jp
Inquiries about ACK
　
ACK Executive Office
Oishi (Ms.) (Department of Culture and Sports, Kyoto Prefecture) Phone: +81 75 414 5298 Email: m-ohishi05@pref.kyoto.lg.jp

　
　

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Reference Material 1
　

Overview of “Art Collaboration Kyoto” (Outline)
　

Event Name

Art Collaboration Kyoto
The katakana notation is “アートコラボレーションキョウト.”
The abbreviation is “ACK.”

Dates

Friday, February 12–Sunday, February 14, 2021
Preview: Thursday, February 11, 2021 (National Foundation Day) Open only to the press and VIPs

Main Venue

Kyoto International Conference Center Event Hall
Address:
Takaragaike Sakyo-ku Kyoto 606-0001 Japan
(5-minute walk from Kokusaikaikan station on the Karasuma Subway Line)
In addition to the 3000 square meters at the above-mentioned venue, related programs will be held in Kyoto City.

Organizer

Art Collaboration Kyoto Executive Committee
The Japanese notation is “アートコラボレーションキョウト実行委員会.” The abbreviation is “ACK Executive Committee.”
　

Chairperson
Katsuhiko Inagaki
Director General of Department of Culture and Sports, Kyoto Prefecture
　
Vice-Chairperson
Yoshiaki Inoue
Director of Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery/
Vice-President of Association for the Promotion of Contemporary Art in Japan
　
Vice-Chairperson
Tomio Koyama
Director of Tomio Koyama Gallery/
Representative Director of Contemporary Art Dealers Association Nippon
　
Member
Tomoharu Inoue
Board Chairman of Culture Vision Japan Foundation Inc.
　
Auditor
Shuhei Akahoshi
Managing Director of Department of Conventions and Tourism, Kyoto Convention and Visitors Bureau
　

　

Support
The Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
The Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan
　

　
In cooperation with
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan Tourism Agency, JETRO Kyoto, Kyoto City, The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japan Association of Corporate Executives, Japan Association of New Economy, Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kyoto Association of Corporate Executives, U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe, Consulate-General of Italy in Osaka, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Korean Cultural Center Korean Embassy in Japan, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Osaka-Kobe, Embassy of Brazil, British Council
　
　

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Reference Material 2

Related programs

　

Artaota
Friday, February 12–Sunday, February 14, 2021
Venue: Kujoyu (Minami-ku Kyoto)
Organizer: Muz Art Producee
　
An art market for works by art students will take place at Kujoyu, a bathhouse.
We hope this will be an opportunity for art experts to seek out new and upcoming talent.

　

Advanced Mission Towards A Kyoto Kogei World
Thursday, February 11–Sunday, February 14, 2021
Venue: Main Office, Former Main Building of the Kyoto Prefectural Office (Kamigyo-ku Kyoto)
Organizer: Kyoto Kogei Association
　
At Main Office, Former Main Building of the Kyoto Prefectural Office, cutting-edge works by current-day craft makers will be on display. Through this event, Kyoto Kogei (Craftwork of Kyoto) aims to develop into a global standard within the contemporary art market.

　

Object
Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14, 2021
Venue: Kyoto Okazaki Tsutaya Books (Sakyo-ku Kyoto)
Organizer: OBJECT
　
An artist-organized fair event that brings together a wide variety of three-dimensional works.
We aim to create an alternative art market for people to interact with artists in an airy, open space.

　

Kyotographie Extra
Friday, February 5–Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at Delta
*Thursday, February 11–Sunday, February 14, 2021 at Itoyu Machiya
Venue: Delta / Kyotographie Permanent Space (Kamigyo-ku) and Itoyu Machiya (Shimogyo-ku)
Organizer: Kyotographie
　
A solo exhibition by Yuna Yagi at Kyotographie’s permanent space DELTA that is newly opened and located in Demachi Masugata Shopping Street (February 5–23.) In addition to that, exhibitions by Marjan Teeuwen and Atsushi Fukushima at five traditional Kyoto townhouses in Shinmachi Ayanokoji (February 12–14,) in total three exhibitions that will be presented during the period.

　

Connect
Saturday, January 23–Sunday, March 14, 2021
Venue: Fujii Daimaru (Shimogyo-ku Kyoto)
Organizer: Artists’ Fair Kyoto Executive Committee
　
As A Special Exhibition Organized By Artists’ Fair Kyoto, An Installation By Contemporary Artist Kengo Kito Will Be Exhibited On The 1st Floor Of Fujii Daimaru And Adorn The City Of Kyoto With Colors
This Winter.
At The Special Event Site On The 2nd Floor, Works By Artists Satoshi Takeda, Yuka Tojo, Jasmine Noda, Who Exhibited Exhibiting In Artists’ Fair Kyoto 2020 Will Be On Display From January 23–31.

　

Rakuchu Kansei Art Exhibition Kyoto 2021
Wednesday, February 10–Sunday, February 21, 2021
Venue: Mitera Sennyuji Temple (Higashiyama-ku Kyoto)
　
Tuesday, February 23–Friday, March 5, 2021
Venue: Kodaiji Temple (Higashiyama-ku Kyoto)
　
Organizer: Rakuchu Kansei Art Exhibition Executive Committee

Organized along the themes of “sensibility,” “tradition,” and “future,” the traditional beauty of Japan as a result of merging a space infused with historical architectural beauty and contemporary art and crafts will be transmitted from Kyoto.
　
　

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Reference Material 3
　

Gallery Collaborations: Participating Galleries

　
Gallery Collaborations
　

Host　　Guest
Anomaly (Tokyo)　Blum & Poe (Los Angeles)
Artcourt Gallery (Osaka)　　Erskine, Hall & Coe (London)
Finch Arts (Kyoto)　　Art Space 413 (Seoul)
Imura Art Gallery (Kyoto)　　Mizuma Gallery (Singapore)
Kayokoyuki (Tokyo)　　King’s Leap (New York)
Misako & Rosen (Tokyo)　　Fortes D’aloia & Gabriel (São Paulo)
Mori Yu Gallery (Kyoto)　　Richard Taittinger Gallery (New York)
Nanzuka (Tokyo)　　Petzel (New York)
Gallery Out Of Place (Tokyo)　　Galerie Camera Obscura (Paris)
Satoko Oe Contemporary (Tokyo)　　Gallery Exit (Hong Kong)
Standing Pine (Nagoya)　　Primo Marella Gallery (Milano)
Taigado (Kyoto)　　Caves Art Center (Taipei)
Taka Ishii Gallery (Tokyo)　　Galerie Gisela Capitain (Cologne)
Takuro Someya Contemporary Art (Tokyo)　　Upstream Gallery (Amsterdam)
Taro Nasu (Tokyo)　　Esther Schipper (Berlin)
Tezukayama Gallery (Osaka)　　Der-Horng Art Gallery (Tainan)
Tokyo Gallery + BTAP (Tokyo)　　Eslite Gallery (Taipei)
Tomio Koyama Gallery (Tokyo)　　König Galerie (Berlin)
Gallery Tomo (Kyoto)　　Marsiglione Arts Gallery (Como)
Gallery Yamaguchi Kunst-bau (Osaka)　　Paula Cooper Gallery (New York)
Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery (Osaka)　　Aki Gallery (Taipei) / Galerie Eigen + Art (Berlin)
Yuka Tsuruno Gallery (Tokyo)　　Alexander Levy (Berlin)

　

　

Kyoto Meetings: Participating Galleries
　

Koki Arts (Tokyo)
Kosaku Kanechika (Tokyo)
Matsuo Megumi + Voice Gallery pfs/w (Kyoto)
Gallery Nomart (Osaka)
Gallery Rin (Tokyo)
Waitingroom (Tokyo)
Gallery Yamaki Fine Art (Kobe)
Yutaka Kikutake Gallery (Tokyo)
　
　

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Reference Material 4
　

Preview of the “Gallery Collaboration” Section
　

Through our “Art Collaboration Kyoto,” I wish for people to see the global connections of the art world.

—Misako & Jeffrey Rosen, Owners & Directors of Misako & Rosen
　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

We chose Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel, a São Paulo-based gallery, to be our collaborators because they are a gallery that we have been working with for the longest, and both galleries have a history of supporting Erika Verzutti from an early point of her artistic career.
Our relationship goes back to 2009 when Misako & Rosen had a two-person show with Erika Verzutti and Tiago Carneiro da Cunha. At ACK, we will be collaborating with these two artists once again.
Because this fair is taking place in Kyoto, we decided to take this opportunity to show artists that we share together.

Both Tokyo and São Paulo are not centers of contemporary art like the way New York is. However, they are both cities with an art scene and a market. And we share the same thinking that, within each of our communities, we strive to understand what we call contemporary art, and to internationally establish the markets and careers of the artists of our own countries.
We hope that this fair taking place in Kyoto will be an opportunity for many people to tune in and to find out more about artists overseas and the communities of galleries.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　
　

　

　
　
　
　
　

　

Preview of the “Kyoto Meetings” Section
　

I have been following the art scene in Kyoto for over 30 years—through the first edition of Art Collaboration Kyoto, I look forward to enjoying the various changes.

—Megumi Matsuo, Owner of Matsuo Megumi + Voice Gallery pfs/w
　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

In 1986, I opened a contemporary art gallery, Matsuo Megumi + Voice Gallery pfs/w. Since then, I have
been following the art scene in Kyoto.
Through such experience, I have come to see that artists in Kyoto are inclined to “be highly skilled,” “be highly inquisitive,” and “not be loud in their insistence on things.”
In the city of Kyoto, time and objects that are old and new coexist, and shadow is more present than light. I aspire to uphold the individual minds of the artists that find motivation and theme from such aspects. Through participating in an art fair in Kyoto, I look forward to observing the many changes in the arts and the surrounding elements, and also the speed of these changes.

　
　
<Artists>
　

Toshio Matsui

After graduating from the Department of Ceramics, Kyoto City University of Arts in 1980, Matsui studied Etruscan bucchero at the Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics in Faenza on a scholarship from the Italian government. After returning to Japan, he went on to research the origin of art through studying and recreating Okinawan Panari ware, West African ceramics, Jomon-era lacquer-coated ceramicware. In recent years, he has been devoting himself to octopus trap fishing, agricultural farming, and research on the formation of perspectives and location where human activities transform into art. Matsui has been organiz- ing a public lecture series called “Neo-Mingei.” His current positions include Director of Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park and Trustee of the International Academy of Ceramics.
　

　

Jun Kawajiri

The 4th generation of the Imakumano family kiln. The 14th generation traced back to the Kutani roots. With metal wire as the core material and clay wrapped around, this work was dried then fired to cause shrinkage in the clay, so that cracks will form on various parts. Each of these parts is separated by these cracks. Although broken, as a whole, the work constitutes a skeletal form and shows “what at first glance seems sturdy, but in actuality is frail.” Furthermore, it is an homage to “the aesthetics of tea” in Japan that appreciates “distortion,” “damage,” “destruction” that is imperfect beauty.
　

　

Nozomi Tojinbara

Graduate of Kyoto City University of Arts. Received her Ph.D. in 2020.
With western classical techniques at her foundation, Tojinbara draws icons from sources such as classical western paintings, children’s literature, and popular Japanese culture.

　
Images are for reference only.

　

　

　

　

　

Preview of the “Kyoto Meetings” Section
　

I strive to discover talented artists in Kyoto and to show their work in Tokyo. I am looking forward to seeing what the response will be like in Kansai.

—Tomoko Ashikawa, Owner of Waitingroom
　

I think one of the attractions is that artists of Kyoto take time in their production, unlike the speedy nature in Tokyo. In addition, due to the nature of the location, there is a tendency to be inspired by the old and traditional forms and to incorporate them into newer forms of expression.
With the addition of several Kyoto-based (and Kansai) artists to my gallery program, I have had more opportunities to come to Kyoto and Kansai for work. Through this, more artists with connections to Kyoto have joined my gallery, and because of my relationships that bring me to Kyoto, it has led me to many encounters and ideas.
In Japan, I had only participated in art fairs in Tokyo, so I am simply looking forward to the response of the audience in an untapped region. And because our gallery works with many artists with connections to Kyoto, I am very curious to see what the response will be like.
　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

<Artists>
　
Saya Okubo

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　
Tsuchitori Fumika

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

Images are for reference only.