©The National Art Center, Tokyo
Japanese Contemporary Art and the World 1989–2010 (working title), an exhibition organized by The National Art Center, Tokyo, in partnership with M+ will take place at NACT from September 3 to December 8, 2025.
On November 8, 2024, NACT will host a symposium featuring distinguished curators and researchers Kathy Halbreich (New York), Yukie Kamiya (New York), and Pi Li (Hong Kong). They will share their insights on Japanese contemporary art and discuss how it has been presented in global contexts over two decades.
A press conference will also be held prior to the beginning of the symposium as the first opportunity to officially announce the outline of the exhibition.
M+, Hong Kong
Photo: Kevin Mak
© Kevin Mak
Photo: Courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron
The exhibition traces a trajectory of contemporary art in Japan beyond national and territorial frameworks, evolving through a rich array of international exchanges. Structured as two intertwined strands of iconic works of art and stories of lesser-known projects by artists during this period, the exhibition features Japanese artists living inside and outside their native country alongside works by international artists. It paints a picture of Japanese contemporary art as a complex, porous network of cultural dialogue and engagement, providing an alternative view to the established narrative of national singularity.
Reference Image: Tatsuo Miyajima, Mega Death, 1999, ©Tatsuo Miyajima, ©Estate of Shigeo ANZAÏ, 1999, Courtesy of ANZAÏ Photo Archive, The National Art Center, Tokyo
The exhibition shows how Japanese contemporary art during this critical transitionary period examined and tackled major subjects, such as the nation's historical legacy and multiplicity of identities, while proposing possibilities of alternative communities. It also underscores the wide influence of Japanese art and visual culture in the first two decades of contemporary globalisation.
Reference Image: Kodai Nakahara, Untitled (Lego Monster), 1990, ©Kodai Nakahara, ©Estate of Shigeo ANZAÏ, 1990, Courtesy of ANZAÏ Photo Archive, The National Art Center, Tokyo