A Beginner’s Guide to GEISAI

GEISAI #12 is fast approaching but what exactly is GEISAI? Tokyo Art Beat explains the basics…

poster for Geisai #12

Geisai #12

at Tokyo Big Sight
in the Kiyosumi, Odaiba area
This event has ended - (2009-03-08)

6 people bookmarked this.
2 people recommend this.
1 person reviewed this.

In Features by William Andrews 2009-03-05 print

What?

GEISAI (meaning ‘art festival’) is a giant art fair dedicated to Japanese Pop Art and to invigorating the art market. For just one day thousands of visitors wander through hundreds of booths. Awards are given to participating artists selected by a jury. Inspire by terakoya temple schools and art college shows, it is a place of fun and excitement – as much a rock festival as a serious business-orientated art fair.

Who?

GEISAI is produced by Takashi Murakami’s Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd.

When?

It is a biannual fair. After an initial incarnation, called GEISAI GP, in 2001, the GEISAI #1 was held in 2002, attracting three thousand people. The most recent was September 2008 and visitors now number over eight thousand.

Why?

It is intended to be a platform for young Japanese artists to break into the professional market. It has been called “practical training” by its organizers. The fair is as accessible for participants as it is for visitors.

Where?

This coming incarnation of the fair is being held at Tokyo Big Sight, where many of the previous ones also took place. Further, GEISAI is spreading overseas, with GEISAI Miami happening in 2008.
Performance art at GEISAI #12. In the background is a large painting by Sodahiebie.
Praise

In the face of losses spiraling into the millions of dollars, Murakami and his cohorts are striving to create a new generation of Japanese artists, to raise popular consciousness of art, and to provide a forum for galleries to meet the next stars.

Criticism

Murakami is indeed trying to foster young artists, but isn’t it just an army of Super Flat advocates, keen on emulating his success with Louis Vuitton handbags? The fair is sprawling but arguably covering similar territory as Design Festa, and certainly museum interest in the event has been very minimal so far.

The only way to say for sure is to go and see for yourself!

For further reading, here is a link to highlights from GEISAI #10, and interviews with Takashi Murakami in 2006 here and here.

Visit the office GEISAI website here.

UPDATE. See our photo report on GEISAI #12.

William Andrews

William Andrews. William Andrews came to Japan in 2004. He first lived in Osaka and worked as a translator for Kansai Art Beat. Arriving in Tokyo in 2008, when he is not exploring art galleries he can often be found in the city's theatres. He works as a translator, editor, copywriter and occasional journalist. He also maintains a (very irregular) blog about Tokyo contemporary theatre: TokyoStages.com » See other writings

Comments

  1. what is this?
    2009-03-06

    If there is nothing of note to see, why should museums be interested? It is hard to maintain momentum over fluff. Cotton candy is nice but not filling and not nourishing.
    http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jim_rohn.html

  2. josafat miranda
    2009-06-16

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/josafat-miranda/

About TABlog

TABlog's writers and video reporters deliver regular reviews, features and interviews to stimulate discussion about all sides of Tokyo's creative scene.

The views expressed on TABlog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of their employers, or Tokyo Art Beat, or the Gadago NPO.

All content on this site is © their respective owner(s).
Tokyo Art Beat (2004 - 2012) - About - Contact - Privacy - Terms of Use