Now past the fragile stage of inauguration and into the heady energy of growth, Tokyo Gendai accelerates to its second year, gathering the premier names and works of contemporary visual art to the PACIFICO Yokohama in early July. The festival brings household names and emerging talent alike to a city poised among the most dynamic and exciting creative hubs on the planet.
“I am looking forward to the second edition of Tokyo Gendai,” says co-founder, Magnus Renfrew, “building on the success of last year’s fair where it marked the beginning of a new chapter for the art scene in Japan.”
Expect eclectic, energetic, and auspicious artworks, and (if your home base is in the UK) vivid escape from the doomscroll of first-past-the-post constituency colouring.
Event Notes
Launched by The Art Assembly in 2023, Tokyo Gendai is an international art fair showcasing curated presentations by internationally recognised contemporary art galleries. Taking place in one of the most dynamic art and design scenes in the world, the fair is a platform for commercial, artistic and intellectual exchange, and a nexus of cross-cultural discovery.
The fair will offer collectors and appreciators a diverse selection of contemporary art from both internationally recognised artists and emerging talent, showcasing galleries from around the world. Acclaimed galleries such as Perrotin and Pace Gallery stand alongside cutting-edge galleries, featuring renowned artists, including Ai Wei Wei, Vivian Springford and Tom Wesselmann, and emerging artists, working with a variety of media, alongside curated programmes.
This year will see the participation of 70 galleries from 18 countries around the world, including Japan, The United Kingdom, USA, France, Germany, Spain and South Korea.
Leading international gallery Pace (New York, London, Seoul, Geneva, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Tokyo), participating in Tokyo Gendai with a solo presentation devoted to Robert Longo, will also be opening a gallery in the Japanese capital this year, while exhibiting French gallery Ceysson & Bénétière (Saint-Étienne, Paris, Lyon, Luxembourg, Geneva, New York, Panéry, Tokyo) will open its first Asian location and 8th gallery space in Tokyo this Autumn.
New galleries will join the fair this year, including Galerie EIGEN + ART (Leipzig, Berlin), Gallery EXIT (Hong Kong), Kwai Fung Hin Art (Hong Kong); alongside returning names such as Almine Rech (Paris, Brussels, London, New York, Shanghai, Monaco), BLUM (Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo), Perrotin (Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, New York, Seoul, Shanghai, Los Angeles), Sadie Coles HQ (London), Taka Ishii Gallery (Tokyo, Kyoto, Maebashi) and SCAI THE BATHHOUSE (Tokyo).
Fair highlights include Tang Contemporary Art’s (Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul, Bangkok) presentation of zodiac animals made out of Lego bricks by renowned Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei, who is famous for his conceptual artworks that challenge authority and explore the links between the contemporary world and traditional Chinese culture.
Elsewhere, SPURS Gallery (Beijing) will curate a group exhibition featuring six artists including Anselm Reyle, one of Germany’s leading contemporary artists who is well known for his large-scale, ultra-refined abstract paintings, sculptures and elaborate installations with neon elements. Meanwhile, Each Modern (Taipei) will present a group show titled Writings as the Universe, featuring works that are layered, dynamic, complex, and constantly evolving.
Tokyo Gendai – 5-7 JULY 2024
PACIFICO Yokohama, 1-1-1 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama 220-0012, Japan
An observer first and foremost, Sean Keenan takes what he sees and forges words from the pictures. Media, critique, exuberant analysis and occasional remorse.
