Aichi Triennale 2022 starts with ‘Still alive’ theme.
In the post-COVID-19 era, the question of how we might recover a sense of daily life and socio-economic activity in order to build a sustainable and more equitable world is an urgent one that the entire world will face.
2022 will be a period of recovery from this pandemic, during which we will see new propositions being called for from all domains of life, whether environmental, political, economic, or cultural, in order to address the structures of contemporary society that have been thrown into sharp relief by COVID-19.
The act of confronting this reality and creating a future amid uncertainty, during this particularly barren and unpromising period, is also an obligation that is being demanded of all of us who live in the present time.
Art, including contemporary art and the performing arts, has always reflected the times, pursued the truth, and proposed new values for the future in the face of uncertainty throughout its history.
Since the 1990s, Western-centric values have branched off in multiple directions. In today’s increasingly complex world, we are seeing an increasing emphasis on the qualities of diversity and inclusion, which demand understanding and respect for diverse cultures.
In particular, the vulnerability of our social structures as exposed by the pandemic has had a profound impact on the work of artists and art institutions, while the international art community has been demonstrating its solidarity in confronting social issues such as discrimination and inequality, in an effort to seek out models for a sustainable world.
The theme of Aichi Triennale 2022, “STILL ALIVE,” was inspired by a series of works entitled I Am Still Alive by the Aichi-born conceptual artist On Kawara, who continually dispatched the fact of his own existence during his lifetime using telegrams starting in the 1970s.
This international art festival to be held in 2022 will offer a multi-dimensional interpretation of the words “STILL ALIVE,” revisiting the origins and sources of contemporary art while also focusing on the gaps between domains that have come to be classed according to fixed categories, all the while shuttling back and forth between the past, present, and future.
Through the medium of art, Aichi Triennale 2022 promises encounters with uncertainty, the unknown, a diversity of values, and overwhelming beauty, while also serving as an opportunity for thinking about how we can create an ideal, sustainable future together.
COVID-19, on the other hand, has curtailed transnational activities and projects, and directed our attention to the regions where we actually live and work. In terms of “regional rediscovery,” one of the distinctive characteristics of art festivals held in different cities, Aichi Triennale 2022 will also incorporate the proud history, local industries, and traditional culture of Aichi Prefecture, exploring the question of how to rejuvenate and revive these elements by taking the present time as a starting point, while also promising to be a creative response to the question of how to connect local cultures around the world to a wider global context.
In order to contemplate the theme “STILL ALIVE,” Aichi Triennale 2022 will embrace the following visions. They do not exist in isolation: rather, they are interrelated and sometimes at odds with each other in terms of how they make up the entirety of this international art festival.
Programs
Contemporary Art
Cutting-edge global contemporary art is introduced through the exhibitions of 82 individual artists or groups from Japan and overseas, including new works.
Events are held across a wide area of the prefecture, with works exhibited at locations including Aichi Arts Center, which includes the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, as well as the cities of Ichinomiya and Tokoname, and the Arimatsu district of Nagoya.
Performing Arts
14 performances of radical theater, music, dance, and other performing arts from Japan and overseas will be performed near the Aichi Prefectural Art Theater and the Aichi Arts Center.
Focusing as well on performance art, which is considered a form of contemporary art, we plan to hold lectures and discussions to help people enjoy a broader range of performing arts.
Learning
“Art is not just for art lovers, it’s for everyone to enjoy in their own way!” This is the concept for our Learning Programs, which are designed for a wide variety of people.
These Programs has been held both in phases leading up to the opening and during Aichi Triennale 2022.
Collaborative Programs
Collaborative projects with a variety of organizations, including art universities within Aichi. ・Short-term “traveling exhibitions” by participating artists will be held at cultural venues in four Aichi
Prefecture cities: Nagakute, Gamagori, Handa, and Nishio.
Stage performances in collaboration with local arts and cultural organizations selected by open call.
Online Initiatives
In addition to on-site exhibitions and performances, video streaming and learning opportunities are offered online.
Artistic Director – Kataoka Mami (Director of the Mori Art Museum and President of the CIMAM)
Period – July 30(Saturday)to October 10(Monday, public holiday), 2022 [ 73 days]
Main Venues – Aichi Arts Center/Ichinomiya City/Tokoname City/Arimatsu, Nagoya City
About Aichi Triennale
The Aichi Triennale is an urban international art festival, held every three years since 2010 across a wide region including the Aichi Arts Center and other city venues, and preparations are underway for Aichi Triennale 2022 to build on the achievements of the previous four iterations.
The festival will span a wide range of fields, synthetically exhibiting performing art and other forms together with a contemporary art core, and make Aichi Prefecture a beacon of the artistic avant-garde.
