Posted:May 15, 2010

Long Live the Republic!

Shibuya’s streets came alive with performance art, music and sculpture for “Art Re-Public Tokyo”.

One hot Golden Week afternoon, a 110 metre stretch of street in Shibuya was turned into a public art carnival for the “Art Re-Public Tokyo”. There was music from the likes of Soil & “Pimp” Sessions and Toast Girl, performance art, live painting, and exhibits of everything from children’s picture books to sculpture.

A rare sight in Shibuya: the street between OI City and Tower Records shut off to traffic.
A rare sight in Shibuya: the street between OI City and Tower Records shut off to traffic.
Photo: William Andrews

Delicate wire sculptures, 'Vanishing Figure' by Etori Kenji.
Delicate wire sculptures, 'Vanishing Figure' by Etori Kenji.
Photo: William Andrews

'Black Usagi' by Oak To All Relations.
'Black Usagi' by Oak To All Relations.
Photo: William Andrews

Live painting by several artists on one pillar.
Live painting by several artists on one pillar.
Photo: William Andrews
Yutaka Kato's building block sculpture, being adjusted by the artist.
Yutaka Kato's building block sculpture, being adjusted by the artist.
Photo: William Andrews

Seen last year at the then-newly opened Nanzuka Underground gallery in Shirokane, 'Family' by Akiyoshi Mishima seemed a bit isolated in the open air.
Seen last year at the then-newly opened Nanzuka Underground gallery in Shirokane, 'Family' by Akiyoshi Mishima seemed a bit isolated in the open air.
Photo: William Andrews

These gentlemen seem very lost at sea, or even rather marooned. Tange Kouki's 'Kusou Tsuribito'.
These gentlemen seem very lost at sea, or even rather marooned. Tange Kouki's 'Kusou Tsuribito'.
Photo: William Andrews

Yuu Satou's 'horn man' occasionally moved, in tandem with a friend, or simply alone.
Yuu Satou's 'horn man' occasionally moved, in tandem with a friend, or simply alone.
Photo: William Andrews

Baguette-lover Toast Girl in concert!
Baguette-lover Toast Girl in concert!
Photo: William Andrews

A performance by Oak To All Relations involved foil costumes, paint, masking tap...and inflated black creatures.
A performance by Oak To All Relations involved foil costumes, paint, masking tap...and inflated black creatures.
Photo: William Andrews

One of the themes of the festival was nature and Mother Earth. Hiromi Nakajima's drawings are half-buried in greenery.
One of the themes of the festival was nature and Mother Earth. Hiromi Nakajima's drawings are half-buried in greenery.
Photo: William Andrews

William Andrews

William Andrews

William Andrews came to Japan in 2004. He first lived in Osaka, where he was a translator for Kansai Art Beat. Arriving in Tokyo in 2008, he now works as an writer, editor and translator. He writes a blog about Japanese radicalism and counterculture and one about Tokyo contemporary theatre. He is the author of Dissenting Japan: A History of Japanese Radicalism and Counterculture, from 1945 to Fukushima.