Posted:Jun 9, 2014

10 Things in Tokyo: May Round-up

A short list of events and exhibitions across Tokyo in May.

Daan Van Golden, 'Mitsukoshi/Tokyo' (2012) Giclee print on photo paper
Daan Van Golden, 'Mitsukoshi/Tokyo' (2012) Giclee print on photo paper
Courtesy Misako & Rosen, Galerie Micheline Szwajcer, Daan van Golden.

The annual Art Award Tokyo once again occupies Gyoko-dori Underground Gallery, linking Tokyo Station with the Marunouchi building. On display are some of the best talent coming out of Tokyo art universities this year. It runs until May 25th. Meanwhile, over in Aoyama, the Spiral Building will host the Spiral Independent Creators Festival 15 this weekend May 3-6. It’s a small but busy art fair to check out emerging artists, designers and their galleries.

The Museum of Modern Art Tokyo, found close to the Imperial Palace, is always worth visiting for their comprehensive collection of Japanese modernism, but if you go this month you’ll also get to see an excellent survey of filmmaker Marcel Broodthaers’ influence on decades of contemporary artists. “Reading Cinema, Finding Words: Art after Marcel Broodthaers” features Miwa Yanagi, Isaac Julien, and Cindy Sherman’s Untitled Film Stills from 1977-80. Until June 1st. Upstairs, see a documentary about the making of Project Fukushima!, a music event put together by Michiru Endo, Ryoichi Wago and Otomo Yoshihide for the people of the troubled region in August 2011.

Photographer Minoru Hirata documented the avant-garde of 1960s Tokyo, including works by Jiro Takamatsu, Genpei Akasegawa, and Natsuyuki Nakanishi (Hi Red Center), Yoko Ono, Ushio Shinohara and Zero Jigen. Taka Ishii gallery have published ACTION, the 1960s on the occasion of the exhibition. Runs until May 31. Another interesting photography exhibition on now is Masako Tomiya’s images of Tsugaru, one of the most remote places on mainland Japan. Until May 18.

Daan Van Golden came to Tokyo over 50 years ago as a Dutch abstract expressionist painter, and left with a whole new portfolio of work. He created some highly formal works based on patterns he saw around him on department store bags and Japanese cloth. It changed the projection of his career and also influenced generations of Dutch art-meets-design. Until June 1.

Kyoichi Tsuzuki, the photographer behind numerous books of images of Tokyo’s underground scenes and the charming “Tokyo: A Certain Style” is back with a series titled “Single Senior Style Part 1“. Not that we really need convincing, but his work aims to prove the vitality of the older generations.

The Japanese influence on French Impressionism is explored in “Ceramics of the French Impressionists 1866-1886: The Blooming of Japonism“, an exhibition of 19th century ceramics alongside works by Monet and Renoir.

Tokyo Wonder Site is showcasing their Creator-in-Residence program with their annual “Tokyo Story” exhibition, expanding across their Hongo and Shibuya venues in a two-part event. Part 1 runs until June 8.

And finally- why not? An exhibition of everything cat-themed in modern Japanese, Chinese and Korean art. “Neko Art” is at the Shoto Museum until May 18th.

Emily Wakeling

Emily Wakeling

Emily Wakeling is a writer and curator who used to be based in Tokyo. Hailing from Brisbane, Australia, Emily wrote a Masters thesis on images of girls in contemporary Japanese art. She also curated some local sound art events. Her research interests cover Asian and Australian contemporary art, young women artists, globalisation and art, and new media.