Shu Saito Exhibition "A View from Yesterday"

"Now" is on top of the continuum of the past.

The colorful installations welcome us in the entrance, lobby, lounge, and guest rooms at the hotel. Each works depicted by soft colors seem to remind us nostalgic landscape, the sound of the wind and even the smells. Various landscapes in our dull memories... Here are the scenery of everyday life. Things that expressed in these works are not special, unusual things, but the familiar things around us.

Gagosian Gallery Hong Kong

A leading international contemporary art gallery comes to Asia!

Gagosian Gallery is a leading international contemporary art gallery with twelve exhibition spaces in New York, Los Angeles, London, Rome, Athens, Paris, Geneva and Hong Kong. Established by Larry Gagosian in 1980, Gagosian is widely considered as the most powerful international art gallery for modern and contemporary art, and in January 2011, it opened its eleventh location, and its first space in Asia, in Hong Kong.

Installation view of Damien Hirst: Forgotten Promises at Gagosian Gallery Hong Kong, 2011. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery.

16th Japan Media Arts Festival

A comprehensive festival of Media Arts

The Japan Media Arts Festival has established itself as a fixture on the international scene and was held from February 13th to 24th.
The Festival received a record 3503 entries from 71 countries and regions around the world and gives awards in each of its four divisions: Art, Entertainment, Animation, and Manga. The Exhibition and events were held at main venue, The National Art Center as well as Cinemart Roppongi, Tokyo Midtown and Super Deluxe.

"Pendulum Choir" Cod.Act (Michel DÉCOSTERD / André DÉCOSTERD)

Craig Green

Nominated Designer of the Year 2012 and a young British talent.

© Craig Green

For the past couple of years a recent Central Saint Martins graduate has made himself known in fashion circles via his incredible designs. Last month, in a bold statement, models marched out wearing very simple and roughly cut clothes with headgear made out of splintered wood. Given the opportunity to be free with his imagination, Craig Green has shown us how talented the up and coming British graduates of today are. He was also the winner of the L’Oreal Professionnel Creative Award and has been nominated for the Design Museum’s Designer of the year 2012 award. His 2012 and recent winter 2013 collections have sparked interest in fashion journalists as well as other fashion designers; he is also in demand for collaborative work which in the last three years has included brands such as Topman and Bally. For the London 2012 Olympics he collaborated with Adidas to create the David Beckham shoe.

MA Collections 2012

You have had three collections in the last 12 months, how do you prepare for each collection? What do you think you have learnt between your first one and your latest one?

Creative Hokkaido Meets Hong Kong

Promote Hokkaido under the keyword "CREATIVE".

There were many design-related events held throughout Hong Kong Design Year 2012. The final event was Creative Hokkaido Meets Hong Kong, by Creative Hokkaido, a project to promote creative culture in Hokkaido, which was held from 30th November until 16th December.

This promotion was a continuation of the 2011 project held in Shanghai. Under the keyword “Creative,” it promoted a new appreciation of Hokkaido to draw visitors from in and outside Japan. As Clark Gallery+SHIFT, SHIFT was responsible for the creative direction of the entire project.

Photo: Masayuki Yajima

NEW CITY ART FAIR TAIPEI

Expands the Japanese art market by participating in the fair.

The NEW CITY ART FAIR was held at “Huashan 1914 Creative Park” in Taipei by H.P. France. This park used to be part of liquor factory but was renovated to make an art and culture center by the support of various artists.

This event was held in New York this March. 12 Japanese galleries joined the event in Taipei. The fashion exhibition called “roomsLINK” was a new event. The aim of this was to tie interiors, fashion and products together. This was not done in New York. ART Taipei, the art fair with the longest history in Asia, was held at the same time. Visitors were able to go to both with a free shuttle.

The following were the galleries that joined the fair.

Toshihiko Shibuya "Snow Pallet III"

The season of the "Snow Pallet" come again!

Photo: Courtesy of the Artist © Toshihiko Shibuya

The latest installation show of "Snow Pallet III" by Toshihiko Shibuya who has been creating artworks aiming for a resonance to a place will be held from December 8th of 2012 to January 20th of 2013 at outside of Yuki Sekiguchi Memorial Museum, neighboring Sapporo Art Park and from January 25th to February 17th of 2013 at North Snow Land in Chitose, neighboring New Chitose Airport.

DOTMOV FESTIVAL 2012

Screening start from November 2012 throughout 2013 around the world!

DOTMOV is a digital film festival organized by online magazine "SHIFT", aiming to discover unknown talented creators and provide an opportunity to show their works. We had a total of 194 works from 16 countries this year, and an excellent 13 works among them were selected by guest judges. All the selected works are also presented on the website.
This year's festival will take place in several cities in Japan and overseas from November 2012 throughout 2013.

Ayaka Ito

"Questioning about the existence".

Vivid colorful salmon by handmade using pencils. Portrait photographs which has scribbled lines created with programmer. A large variety of her works have many characteristics and aspects and they captivate us beyond our notion of design. Yokohama born, New York based designer Ayaka Ito's works contain web design, graphic design, illustration through various medias, and her works are always filled with colorful and amusing images. She studied interactive design and communication design at the collage in the United States, and she is making works across genres - web, paper medium, three dimensional woks, films. By analyzing her works, it can be said that her stance is more creator rather than graphic designer. I interviewed her working overseas in New york city about passion and creativity.

Portrait, Scribbed Line People, Ayaka Ito

Please tell us about yourself.

Chisato Shinya “Minimal Art”

The fifth collaboration of SHIFT and CROSS HOTEL Sapporo!

Monroe's Shoes, Chisato Shinya, 2012. 1,500 × 1,500 mm, Swarovski, Acrylic on Canvas Photo: Ryoichi Kawajiri

The solo exhibition by Sapporo based artist, Chisato Shinya a.k.a. Kinpro have been held from Wednesday September 19th at Cross Hotel Sapporo. This exhibition is the fifth edition of collaborations of Clark Gallery + SHIFT and Cross Hotel, and is one of the series of "Machinaka Art X edition".

Michael's Glove, Chisato Shinya, 2012. 727 × 727 mm, Swarovski, Acrylic on Canvas. Photo: Ryoichi Kawajiri

Ayami Nishimura

"MAKE UP" Ayami Nishimura by Rankin　

One of the most famous British fashion photographers, who are also the founder of Dazed & Confused, Rankin released the collaboration works with the UK-based make-up artist Ayami Nishimura at the DIESEL ART GALLERY in Shibuya, Tokyo. This exhibition from art books by Rankin and Ayami Nishimura is the second version of a visual make-up book followed by collaboration with Alex box and Rankin. It is exhibited the video of works of both artists and 20 photos chosen from among more than 100. We had interview to Ayami Nishimura from London who came to Japan in accordance with the exhibition.

Torafu Architects

This is an architectural unit that's been crossing borders on solid footing.

Koichi Suzuno and Shinya Kamuro established TORAFU ARCHITECTS in 2004. The two have undertaken architectural design and spatial design of course, but also architecture-based projects ranging from exhibition space layout to furniture, products and installations, to theatre design. In February 2012, "TOKYO FRONTLINE 2012" was held for a second time, where TORAFU and Gallery deux poissons, a supporter of the Japanese contemporary jewelry market and jewelry artists, collaborated on "gold wedding ring." I had the opportunity to talk with the two partners of TORAFU ARCHITECTS who have been progressing in the design world on very solid footing, but with much flexibility.

Photo: YOSHIAKI TSUTSUI

You're originally from Kanagawa and Shimane prefectures, respectively. You went to different universities and graduate schools, worked at different firms. How did TORAFU come about?

Lee Bul: From Me, Belongs To You

The first large-scale solo exhibition of Asia's leading female artist.

"Lee Bul: From Me, Belongs To You", Mori Art Museum, 2012. Photo: Osamu Watanabe

Korean artist, Lee Bul (Born 1964) exhibition, “Lee Bul: From Me, Belongs To You” was held at Mori Art Museum from February 4th to May 27th. Greeting the visitors with a large piece, the exhibition was indeed quite exquisite and beautiful. As a woman artist, Lee Bul has exhibited her works from 1990 up until her recent work, “The Secret Sharer”. Reflecting this to her exhibition, the title, “From Me, Belongs to You” exhibition is distinguished in 4 different themes: “Ephemeral Presence”, “Beyond Human”, “Utopia and Dreamscape”, and “From Me, Belongs To You Only”. On top of that, exhibition will also showcase sketches over 150 pieces and 50 marquees.

Art Fair Tokyo 2012

The past and the present. Japan and East Asia. Beyond the axis of time, with an eye towards the future.

Art Fair Tokyo 2012 was held at the Tokyo International Forum over three days starting March 30th. Now in its 7th year and coinciding with the the annual cherry blossom season, the fair decided to expand the exhibit area to 5000 square meters, approximately twice the size of last year's event, with a total of 160 exhibitors. Including the number of invited guests and press for the opening preview on 29th, the fair recorded more than 53,000 guests, the most in its history.

Photo: Noriko Yamakoshi

Damien Hirst exhibition

Tate Modern celebrates the art of Damien Hirst.

Since the late 1980s one man has had a huge impact, not only on British art, but on the international stage. Born in 1965 Damien Hirst studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths University, London, and contributed to his first exhibition in 1988. In the 1990s he went from strength to strength having his first international exhibition in Venice in 1993 and winning the prestigious Turner Prize in 1995 and releasing his autobiography in 1997. Damien Hirst has continued to provoke and to astound with regular exhibitions and new pieces of artwork. Now the Tate Modern has brought together his key artworks from the last 20 years for the first major survey to be organised in London.

ART KYOTO 2012

The moment Kyoto blooms as an International Art Market.

Kyoto International Conference Center. Photo: Nobutada Omote. © ART KYOTO 2012 Executive Committee

Cherry blossoms have withered, and it's almost summer in Kyoto. For 3 days- this large-scaled art fair, "ART KYOTO 2012" was held from April 27th to 29th. It was the year 2010 that the fair was held at Hotel Monterey Kyoto by renting out a one whole floor. Every year, each gallery exhibited in show in a room, this is the type of a style they followed. This year, the main exhibition was held in Kyoto International Conference Center, and Hotel Monterey Kyoto as a sub-venue. On top of that, various events were held in metro facilities, and made this art fair into a larger-scale.

The LaM

Lille Metropole Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art

External view of the new wing of the LaM – Lille Metropole Museum of Modern, contemporary and outsider art, Villeneuve d’Ascq (France) - by architect Manuelle Gautrand. Photo : Max Lerouge / LMCU. © Manuelle Gautrand Architecture.

The LaM (Lille Metropole Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art), is not exactly situated in Lille, but in the close-by city of Villeneuve d’Ascq. It was created in 1983, to host the Masurel donation, an exceptional collection of cubist art (with important paintings from Picasso, Braque, Fernand Léger, Laurens… ) and of works from such artists as Andre Derain, Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Masson, Joan Miró or Modigliani.

Faena Art Center

Idea-exchanges, experimentation and cultural investigation.

© Faena Art Center

In September 2011 one of the most ambitious art projects in Argentina was opened to the public: the Faena Art Center. This 4,000-square-metre building and 14-million-dollar investment, was built as a place destined to promote the exchange of disciplinary expressions and to explore all possible combinations of art, technology and design. The project is based on idea-exchanges, experimentation and cultural investigation.

The former engine room of the emblematic building Los Molinos (The Windmills) was the spot chosen by the Faena Group to install their art center, with which they have been able to consolidate the Art District concept. The Art District, according to its creators, is defined as a work of art in constant evolution, which responds to and foresees the spiritual and material needs of future inhabitants.

Hiroyuki Tamino Exhibition "1997-2012"

Within peace.

Once you arrive at the front desk of the Cross Hotel Sapporo, as stylish as any hotel in Europe, one painting on the wall will catch your eyes. The melting popsicle in this oil painting looks real enough to touch. It is one in a series of Hiroyuki Tamino's representative work called "Icebar (popsicle)."

Christian Joy

“Do androids dream of electric shrimp?”

The exhibition by costume designer, Christian Joy who works on costumes of Yeah Yeah Yeah’s charismatic singer, Karen O at DIESEL ART GALLERY. In addition to Karen O's performances, as her fame, and as an original daring fashion icon, so did Joy's reputation all over the world. Recently names as one of the “Most Stylish New Yorkers” by Time Out Magazine, she has attracted a great deal of public attention.