Illustrations based on the theme "picnic" by five creators are on display. [Image: Igloo *dining*]

Seiko Omori presents her two dimensional works combining illustrations that she used to use for women's magazine works and images of flowers and plants. Small craft items are also on display. Opening Party: May 9th (Fri) 18:00-20:00

Yamaguchi's rich, poetic oil paintings of nature scenes depict a world whose gentleness has long been forgotten in the midst of the modern city.

Collaborative exhibition by two prominent illustrators. This year marks their sixth collaboration.

3 years after 2005's "Haginowatarikaitaku", this exhibition features paths leading off to the sea.

Group exhibition of artists from different generations and working in different styles, 2D works and paintings. This time, the artists have split the exhibition into two periods among themselves according to whether they are "drinking at the beach" types or "drinking in the jungle" types (of course, some of them are teetotalers).

Two-dimensional works using dye techniques.

Keith Haring blazed a trail through the 80's and died at 31 after only about a decade-long career as an artist. The prolific body of work he left behind had an intuitive sense of frenzy, attempting to change the future into dream, while at the same time full of the energy of life. Alongside pop images of dreams and hope that sets one free, there is also something of the artist's madness and chaos in Haring's work. These ambiguities challenge the legendary reputation enjoyed by Haring, especially with respect to the New York street culture, speaking equally to those of that period, as well as to the generation to whom the 80's remain largely unknown. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Haring's birth. The Nakamura Keith Haring Museum, which opened last year, is hosting the special exhibition "It is art as I know it. It is life as I know it. -Dream, Love, Hope and Peace" in memory of him. As a part of this commemorative program, Ars Gallery is holding a Keith Haring exhibition centering on his prints. The 7 prints on display exude a sense of immediacy and vigor that also reflects the artist's deft technique. [Image: "Andy Mouse" (1986) Silkscreen 97.5 × 97.5cm]

This exhibition showcases "Typeface" and "Book" by young 31 year-old designer Kenji Nishimura. Fonts such as "Rag", "Fallen Hair" and "Penis" were inspired by encounters from daily life. "Book" features new book designs from the "Boku Shobo" series for such classics as Osamu Dazai's "Ningen Shikkaku" and Ryunosuke Akutagawa's "Kappa". In addition, an editor will be invited to participate in a talk event on the weekend. Taken as a whole, this exhibition will delve deeply into what is required of a designer, and what one needs to link the products in this exhibition with one's work. Talk event "Selling Public" May 5th 15:00- Guest editor: Tamito Komiyama (Rironsha)

Papier Hekisui has been producing feeling-good original stationery. This exhibition celebrates their stamp collection whose number amounts to 300, while newly designed cards will be on display also.

Icaru is a bag brand by Hikaru Yajima. His designs betray his special interest in and attention to their colors and textures. They are not only functional, but also make you feel happier as you use them.

This is a commemorative exhibition of Suzy Amakane's comic book to be published in May. Her original illustrations and paintings will be on display. More details will be announced later.

This exhibition marks Aperture's (New York) publication of the photo collection of the same name. This is Homma's first Tokyo-themed show in 10 years capturing various angles of Tokyo. More details will be announced later.

Alicia Bay Laurel's original drawings of "Living on the Earth" are on display at Kurkku in Jingumae for the first time, and this is a long waited event for the fans of Alicia. These works are available for purchase. Her lovely drawings carry the scent of a hippy commune life in the 70s.

This is the second official event marking UK-Japan 2008 to be held at Paul Smith Space Gallery. Colorful, simple yet poetic, this artist is a well-regarded painter belonging to the Royal Academy.

This is an exhibition by one of America's representative photographers, Lee Friedlander. His work has contributed to a new development in documentary photography, beginning with his photographs of scenes of everyday life in America that he started taking in the sixties. This artist visited Japan several times between the late seventies and nineties, capturing cherry blossoms from a completely different perspective than the local Japanese. About 40 works from his cherry blossom series will be on display.

We are pleased to announce the exhibition “sign/kehai”, with new works of Makiko Tanaka, an artist who works actively in a variety of media, such as pencil drawing, watercolor and installation. Although the expression of her imaginative world and emotional portraits are the main concerns of her work, she avoids an easy, facile “expressive style” and any justification of her subjectivity. Her fleeting but considerably detailed drawings symbolize her attempt to seize “the sign of existence=kehai”, and it acts as a conceptual map of herself. In this exhibition, Tanaka will show prints and oil paintings as well as pencil drawings. Opening reception: May 9th (Fri) 19:00-21:00 [Image: “Brooch” (2007), pencil, watercolor and paper, 79.5×109 cm © Makiko Tanaka Courtesy of Yumiko Chiba Associates]

The genesis of “The Elements: Air/Water, Part 1” was sparked in July 2007, when Joel Meyerowitz was directing a video of Olympic divers from an underwater viewing room at a Florida pool. The repetition of dives had one thing in common; with every entry into the pool, an enormous plume of bubbles encased the diver. As each diver swam away, the bubbles coalesced into a cloud that rose to the surface and returned to the atmosphere. This small observation, about one Element's transition into another, led him to think about the individual qualities of the four Elements and their physical relationships. Meyerowitz responded immediately by beginning a study of the Elements and making a commitment to observe what these essential facts of life would look like in video and photographs. Opening Reception with Artist: March 7th (Fri) 19:00-22:00

The most distinctive buildings completed by architect Tadashi Suga will be on display in photographs, showcasing the intended purpose of each building as well as how the architect responded to the client's particular brief.

Works by emerging artists are on display. vol.145 April 28th (Mon) - May 11th (Sun) Chisato Fujita (Ceramic) vol.146 March 13th (Tue) - March 25th (Sun) Iracu (Bag, small works) vol.147 March 26th (Mon) - June 8th (Sun) Tomomi Kawakami (Glass) vol.148 June 9th (Mon) - June 22nd (Sun) Salon de Pink (Bag) vol.149 June 23rd (Mon) - July 6th (Sun) Miki Inoue (Glass) vol.150 July 7th (Mon) - July 21st (Sun) Kazumi Yoshimura (Ceramic)

In Ayako Maruta's installations, arches and pillars, which were were used to form spaces in classical architecture, are created with construction cable and industrial lampshades. Rather than create arches supported from the ground, they are instead suspended from the ceiling or supported by a single pillar. Murata's works use industrial cables and lampshades that are normally used at construction sites. She also uses denim with an aged, vintage look. This new uses of common materials can create a new sense of aesthetics.

Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the museum, this exhibition sheds light on Taro Okamoto's "Tower of the Sun," a monument created for the Japan World Exposition held in 1970. The work symbolizes "the progress and harmony of human beings." Okamoto wanted to build something extremely "absurd" that stood out in the expo crowded with modernist pavilions. This idea of a "festival" transcending any nationality, race, or language barriers was prominent in the monument. The tower contains "Tree of Life" which illustrates the growth of humanity. Also, the internal space is divided into parts, each of which represent the past, present, and future, unfolding the dynamism of life, which has always existed around us. The monument is an ultimate compilation of Okamoto's philosophy and theory of art. This exhibition introduces everything about the "Tower of the Sun" through video documentation, along with Okamoto's sketches and writings. Please see the museum website for more details.

1. Opening Talk April 26th (Sat) 17:00-18:00 Speaker: Fabrice Hyber Hyber will speak about the exhibition theme of "growing seeds," his recent activities, as well as the farms he has helped to build in Vendée. Fee: ¥1500 (Watari-Um museum supporters and members free) 2. "Seed and Grow" exhibition talk 1st session: May 17th (Sat) 19:00-21:00 "The 21st century is the age of farming" Speaker: Isoya Shinji (Tokyo Agricultural University) Agriculturalization of our cities. Coexistence of humans and nature. 2nd session: June 21st (Sat) "Where will we go to live? Urban agriculture" Speaker: Yoshitaka Shiraishi (Shirashi Farm) Runs the experiential farm "Kaze no Kakko" in Nerima Ward, Tokyo. Conducts activities linking the local people to each other through farming and agriculture. Shiraishi will speak about the importance of local farming and procurement of ingredients. "In Search of the original 'Farm'" Speaker: Shinji Abe (Tsubura Farm) Born in Tokyo and raised in Yokohama, Abe will talk about how he got acquainted with farming despite an urban, salaryman existence. 3rd session: July 5th (Sat) "About Tokyo today" Speaker: Michihiko Yanai (creative director) Established "Kaze to Rokku" in 2003 after working in advertising. A practiced copywriter, Yanai will speak on the future of Tokyo. Fee: ¥2000 per talk (Watari-Um Museum supporters ¥1000, normal members ¥1600) Season pass for all three talks: ¥4800 (Watari-Um Museum supporters ¥2400, normal members ¥3840) 3. "Lunch in a vegetable field" tour July 21st (Mon, national holiday) Speaker: Yoshitaka Shiraishi (Shiraishi farm) Visit to Shiraishi's "Wind School" experiential farm. First-hand experience of how vegetables are grown. The tour will conclude with a delicious vegetable lunch. Fee: ¥2500 + lunch fee (about ¥1800), limited to 28 people. August 8th (Fri) 19:00-21:00 "Bees are our bridge to nature" Speaker: Mitsuo Matsuka (Tamgawa University) Bees visit flowers, gathering pollen and making hives. From bees and royal jelly gathered from hive boxes, this talk introduces this living agricultural product. Fee: ¥800 (Watari-Um Museum supporters ¥400, normal members ¥640) *Please see website for details on attending.

This exhibition introduces works by Joshibi Art University graduates who have been active in photography and graphics. Works and messages with a uniquely feminine viewpoint will be on display. This exhibition is simultaneously held at Daikoku-ya Gallery in Ginza (03-3571-0008) and Joshibi Galeria Nike in Shin Nakano (03-5340-6671), each venue presenting different works by the artists.

Graduated in 2003 from the Photographic Arts Vocational College of Japan. Exhibited at the Tokyo Wonderwall exhibition (Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo) in 2007.

Born 1964 in Tokyo. Joined the Korean newspaper company Shinhosha in 1992 and became a freelance photographer after leaving the company. Graduated from the research department of the Tokyo Sogo Photography College in 2002. Published the photo collection "Moon Residence" (Toseisha) and held solo show at the Shinjuku Nikon Salon. From 2004-5, held the "Out of Ordinary" international traveling exhibition with the aid of an international exchange grant. Lives and works in Tokyo.

Group exhibition of artists from different generations and working in different styles, 2D works and paintings. This time, the artists have split the exhibition into two periods among themselves according to whether they are "drinking at the beach" types or "drinking in the jungle" types (of course, some of them are teetotalers).

Suzuki has been producing work since 2007 in a sharp, fashionable style that enjoyed a fair amount of favorable attention early on in his career. This is his first solo exhibition, featuring motifs and patterns "cut" and "broken" from folded origami paper, concentrating on its unique folds. By using origami paper in only a few restricted colors, Suzuki achieves wonderful variations in light and shade through a bold use of color that is both refreshing yet simple, creating a fascinating cut-and-paste world. Event 1 Hiroki Suzuki will create portraits of visitors based on photographs of them, making a unique souvenir. Event 2 "Outlet store" of art books sold by Building. Known for works such as "Tamala 2010," a cult animation movie from 2003 that continues to attract fans worldwide, as well as fashion photographer Bruce Weber's "A Letter to True". Up to a 50% discount on selected products!