This exhibition has been made possible by the collaboration between Collection de l'Art Brut in Switzerland and Borderless Art Museum NO-MA in Shiga. Art Brut (Outsider Art) refers to artworks created by artists without formal education in art. These works come from the artists and their strong desire to create art, and are rarely influenced by trends. Therefore, these works of Art Brut reflect an "impulse of expression" that is fundamental to humanity. In this exhibition, the Art Brut in Europe and America and outsider art in Japan meet. The exhibition offers an opportunity to feel the universal dream, freedom, and power of creative activity that goes beyond differences in cultural and historical contexts.

Asada creates situational self-portraits of his own family, confronting new possibilities in photography by looking at the interrelationships between performance roles and actual positions and configurations that dictate family life. In these works, his father plays yakuza boss while Asada and his brother are his underlings. Or else they become an entire family of firemen, or then again pose as a family business. In this way, Asada reexamines the power of the "souvenir photo". This exhibition features the Asada family series with the artist's 4 family members acting out comical portraits as firemen, ramen shop owners and members of a criminal underworld. Through humor, this series of 40 color photographs hopes to prompt discussion about actual familial roles.

Glass artist Akira Watanabe has a studio in an artist village located on top of a 430-meter mountain in Rakusai, Kyoto. Various artists hold their studios there, engaging in their artistic activities in such a creative environment surrounded by nature. Watanabe has a unique career as a craft artist. He first studied philosophy at a university, where he was introduced to the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, captured by the beauty of glass art. He worked for a glass-related company, while studying cutting techniques. Then he became an independent glass artist 10 years ago. This is Watanabe's first solo exhibition at Wako Hall showcasing a total of 80 glass plates, bowls, vessels, and glasses. He mainly incorporates glass-sheet layering technique creating a group of glittering-star-like glassware. [Image: "Seiyu" 29.5 x 31.5 x 4.5cm]

This is the inaugural edition of the "Shape of Today" exhibition at Galerie Nichido. 30 contemporary sculptors at the forefront of their discipline have been selected to exhibit their work at this exhibition organized by the Showa-kai, who also run the gallery. [Image: Yuji Banura, "Red Eagle", lacquered wood, H.28×W.26×D.30]

1968 marked a transition point in Japanese political history. Radical political views and activities, experimental mentalities, and rebellion against traditional social models came into the cultural foreground. This third Art Archive Exhibition analyzes the year 1968, focusing on Tatsumi Hijikata's performance, "Rebellion of the Body". This exhibition also includes documents from Shuzo Takiguchi and Shoichi Yui from the same period, presenting the idea of the "rebellion of the body" seen within the context of the year 1968.

Minakawa began exhibiting at Art Box Gallery since 1999, and this solo exhibition is his 10th to be held here. Focusing mostly on his "Nurseryland Tales" series, this exhibition presents his popular character designs.

The Art Festival for World Peace is an international event that seeks ways to make contributions to world peace through art. Held once in four years, in Seoul in 2000 and Shanghai in 2004, the festival has come to Japan this year, 2008. Gallery Bijutsu Sekai is proud to hold this preview exhibition that will give visitors a foretaste of the upcoming festival.

The Dentsu Advertising Awards were established in 1947, shortly after the Second World War, for the purpose of contributing to the progress of advertising in Japan. This year marks the 61st installment of the award. This year sees the inauguration of the Direct Advertising Award and the Best Campaign Award. It is often said that the history of the Dentsu Advertising Awards is the history of the flourishing creativity demonstrated through postwar Japanese advertising.

[Image: "Tracing the Path of Light" (2006) cotton cloth, glue, white chalk, oil, watercolor, panel 162 × 130cm]

[Image: "Chronological 3" pulp, paper mulberry, goose skin, black lead, lead, gold leaf etching 32 × 24cm]

Reception: June 24th (Tue) 17:00-19:00

The season for Ginza Graphic Gallery's annual ADC (Art Directors' Club) Exhibition has arrived! From over 10,000 works in various genres such as posters, advertisements for newspapers and magazines, editorials, CI marks & logos, TV commercials and more, the ADC award, which is the most prestigious prize to be awarded to advertisement or design work, has been selected after careful screening by 84 ADC members. Since its inauguration in 1952, the ADC has been active as a crucial force powering the advertising and design industries. Prior to the launch of ADC Yearbook (scheduled to be published at the end of November by Bijutsu Shuppansha), this exhibition introduces prize-winning work from this year as well as other exceptional works at two sites: members' work at the Ginza Graphic Gallery and non-members' work at Creation Gallery G8. Gallery talks with ADC award winners and production staff will take place at each site as well. Please inquire at the galleries for talk schedules and guest lineups (reservation required, admission free). Locations and schedule -"Members' work": Ginza Graphic Gallery July 4th (Fri)-30th (Wed), 11:00-19:00 (until 18:00 on Sat), closed on Sundays & holidays. -"Non-members' work": Creation Gallery G8 July 7th (Mon)-August 1st (Fri), 11:00-19:00 (until 20:30 on Wed), closed on Saturdays, Sundays & holidays. Opening Party: July 7th (Mon) Ginza Graphic Gallery 17:30－19:00, Creation Gallery G8 19:00－20:30

Maddelena Sisto (born 1951 in Alexandria, passed away 2000 in Milan) was a world-renowned illustrator who worked with magazines like Italian Vogue and Elle Deco, and was also something of a legend in the Italian fashion world. For 30 years since the 70's, Sisto expressed the zeitgeist through her work with remarkable flair. Unfortunately, her prolific career was cut short In 2000, when she fell victim to cancer and passed away shortly after. This show is a traveling exhibition that was inaugurated in 2004 at the Milan Triennale, organized by Franca Sozzani, the charismatic editor of Italian Vogue. Now arriving in Japan, it has been extremely well-received in Italy owing to its comprehensive documentation of changing times through the medium of fashion. About 1000 works by Sisto will be on display, including around 100 original watercolors on the subject of fashion and design, as well as art objects, sculptures, and photographs. In these autographed works, Sisto captured and reflected the spirit of an age through her astute illustrations, infused not only with her exceptional talent, but also her sharp eye for irony.

The Tokyo Art Directors Club (ADC) Exhibition is an established event in the Tokyo advertising and design worlds. Founded in 1952, the ADC currently comprises 84 first-rate art directors. The annual ADC exhibition is an open-call event with the entire membership of the club acting as judging panel, and the prize it awards is widely recognized both in and outside of Japan as an influential honor that reflects the most innovative trends in Japanese advertising and graphic design. This year again saw more than 10000 entries that had been released and published in the year between May 2007 and April 2008. The winning submissions and yearbook compilation entries were selected over an exacting 4-day screening process. They will be published in the ADC yearbook at the end of November by Bijutsu Shuppansha, and the works themselves will be exhibited at both Creation Gallery G8 (works by non-members) and Ginza Graphic Gallery (work by members). Opening party: July 7th (Mon) 19:00- Talk show: 203rd Creative Salon Date and time: July 22nd (Tue) 19:10-20:40 Guests: Hiroshi Sasaki, Shinichi Fukuzato, Toshiyuki Yagi Venue: Creation Gallery G8 Free entry, reservation required (tel: 03-3575-6918) Now accepting reservations.

Commemorating the publication of the book "Naoyoshi Hikosaka's Ecriture/Contemporary Artists' Thinking" (Miwa Shoseki, ¥6720), photographic works of Floor Events No. 1 (1970) and No. 3 (1972) will be on display. Publication party: August 1st, 18:00-20:00 Those who wish to attend the party on the closing day of the exhibition, please send an email to Mr. Sakaue at shinobu@flamenco.plala.or.jp, or fax at 03-3787-2307. The fee is ¥10000. (Includes price of book, which will be returned to those who have already purchased it) [Image: Naoyoshi Hikosaka, "Floor Event No. 1" (1970)]

During this month-long summer program, a new generation of artists' works in various media will 'cross' the urban environment and the lives contained within it. -Program 1 "Artists' Crossing Presentation at Pepper's Gallery" Dates: June 30th (Mon)-July 12th (Sat) Artists: Kanako Otani, Masayuki Watanabe, Aya Shiraishi, Takashi Hokoi, Shogo Suzuki, Ayano Nagato, Saki Kaneko, Shogo Nakagawa, Mikiko Shimatani -Program 2 "Artists' Crossing at NOS Aoyama" Dates: July 21st (Mon)-August 2nd (Sat) Artists: Kanako Otani, Masayuki Watanabe, Aya Shiraishi, Takashi Hokoi, Ayano Nagato, Saki Kaneko, Shogo Nakagawa -Program 3 "Artists' Crossing at Other City Spaces Selected by the Artists" Dates: June 30th (Mon)-August 2nd (Sat) Artists: Kanako Otani, Takashi Hokoi, Ayano Nagato, Aya Shiraishi, Masayuki Watanabe, Shogo Suzuki, Shogo Nakagawa [Image: Aya Shiraishi]

As the title suggests, this exhibition features not well-known pieces but the collection of "unknown ones worth honorable mention", which ranges from works exhibited when the gallery was at the previous location to the ones the gallery owner has collected based purely on his own interest and taste. A lot of works will be on display for the first time ever. [Image: Koji Enokura "Cloth No.2" (1977) silkscreen (waste oil) 77.6 × 108.3cm]

We are pleased to announce our upcoming exhibition of antique menus from the collection of Hiroomi Tatematsu collection and the "Banquet" exhibition by graf media gm and several contemporary artists. In this exhibition, we introduce antique menus from the collection of Mr. Hiroomi Tatematsu, a Paris based collector. graf media gm is a creative group who is involved with art, food, design, and variety of different fields. Mr. Tatematsu collects menus of banquets that are historically and diplomatically important, as well as being beautifully made. We chose approximately 40 menus from his collection for the exhibition. In addition, graf media gm will produce a banquet room in the gallery with 7 artists from different genres: Umitaro Abe (music), Andreas & Frederika (visual communication), Kasetsu (Japanese calligraphy, seal engraving), Theatre Products (fashion), Yoriko Hoshi (manga), nanpushokudo (cooking unit) and Mie Morimoto (photography). [Image: 1900 Cafe Riche (venerable high-end restaurant), a la carte menu, from the collection of Hiroomi Tatematsu]

This exhibition features the work of Chiezo Taro, an artist who won the special encouragement award at the VOCA exhibition '98. Taro began holding exhibitions both in Japan and abroad since the 90s, and is part of the center of a wave of Japanese contemporary painters who, like Takashi Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara, have attracted much critical attention in Europe and the US, contributing to the current boom in contemporary art and influencing many younger artists. This exhibition is Taro's first solo show in Tokyo in 6 years. The title of this show, "Illusion of Two Tower Buildings and Landscape", consists mostly of large-scale landscapes in series inspired by the traditional "sansui" Japanese landscape works by Sesshu and Hiroshige. Taro, who was dumbstruck when he witnessed first hand and up close the collision of the first airplane to hit the twin towers in New York on September 11th, 2001, has created large scale paintings that attempt to answer the question of what role art might possibly play in an age when even the economy and politics have no resounding and effective answer to climate change and unending strife. Of particular note is "Sumida River, devoted to Motomasa; or, WTC", a large-scale painting measuring almost 4m across. This work was shown at the "War and Art II" exhibition at Zokei University in Kyoto this January, and was almost universally lauded by the press, winning enthusiastic praise in 6 newspapers and art magazines. The painting depicted the loss of the twin towers by an act of terrorism, but rendered as an illusory scene or imaginary landscape - a galvanizing work that inspired the artist to take up his brushes again to engage the world around him even after the loss of his motivation in the wake of 911. Also on display is Taro's large scale painting "The Laws of the Economy" (1996), an early work that was shown at the opening exhibition of Tomio Koyama Gallery 12 years ago. Following this exhibition closely will be another show of Taro's work, to be held at Tokyo Wonder Site Hongo from August 2nd to September 21st, that gathers his paintings from the 90s culled from the Okada collection - entitled "Post-human Artist Chiezo Taro's Fantasy Museum from the O Collection". -Opening Reception: June 27th (Fri) 17:00-19:00

Tokyo Gallery + BTAP is pleased to announce that it is holding a solo exhibition by Korean artist Kim Changyoung, titled "From where to where". This is Kim's first exhibition at Tokyo Gallery + BTAP, and he will be showing new works that address the theme of the evanescence of life. Kim Changyoung was born in Taegu, Korea in 1957. He moved to Japan in 1982 and a chance encounter with Yoshihige Saito led him to study at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. It was there that he started to make works using sand. Following his graduation in 1986, he held exhibitions at Gallery BHAK and a number of other spaces. Kim makes his works by pasting Korean yellow soil onto the canvas and then painting over it with oil paint. On top of this sandy surface, the imagery he creates is one of sandy landscapes, pockmarked with countless footprints. The use of real sand in the works entices viewers into feeling that they have been transported into at an actual sandy environment. After looking at Kim Changyoung's works for a while, one begins to think that the act of painting, like the footprints portrayed in the images, is the act of leaving an imprint on the world. Likewise, in the way that footprints in the sand disappear with the wind, people's acts also disappear with time. The title of the works "From where to where" aims to convey this sense of life's transience. This exhibition at Tokyo Gallery + BTAP is being held simultaneously with the imported luxury goods store Sun Motoyama, also in Ginza. At the opening reception on July 16 (Wed), from 19:00, Kim Ol will give a kayagum performance (traditional Korean zither). Tokyo Gallery + BTAP hopes that you will take this opportunity to experience Kim Changyoung's magical world in which reality and illusion intertwine. Opening : July 16th (Wed) 18:00-20:00 Event: from 19:00, Kim Ol will give a kayagum performance (traditional Korean zither)

The Japan Design Committee is hosting an exhibition entitled Gifu Prefecture Oribe Design Center Hida Furniture Project "Furniture for Personal Use' 6 Designers Exhibition". This exhibition introduces the results of monozukuri (shop-floor) project, which has been realized by bringing together technical capabilities of Hidatakayama, the region famous for its furniture industry, and designing skills of Japan Design Committee members. Gifu Economic and Industrial Promotion Center (Oribe Design Center), furniture manufacturers of Hidatakayama (Kagu Kobo Kijisha, Nisshin Mokko, Hida Sangyo) and 6 Committee members (Kenya Hara, Shinji Iwasaki, Motomi Kawakami, Shin Matsunaga, Kaoru Mende, Taku Sato) collaborated on "furniture for personal use". 6 members designed their respective work with specific places and settings in mind. Then, the manufacturers gathered intended meanings and significances of all designs and repeatedly produced prototypes for about a year with intent to distribute them eventually. This exhibition showcases 6 pieces of furniture that the 6 Committee members designed. They will be sold by subscription at the venue also.

Features the work of Shizuka Goto, an artist who exhibited at the "Who's Next" exhibition in April. With titles like Imoarai, Kurigohan and Yosegaki, Goto draws scenes of wartime events, including one that valorizes her own granduncle who starved to death during the war, rendering the scene in a large-scale manga-style sumi ink painting. Runs until the anniversary of the end of the war. Opening Party: July 8th, 18:00-20:00 (artist will be present) [Image: Yasuka Goto, "Autograph Collection" (2008), oil, acrylic and gouache on canvas, 300x500cm]

Characterized by the use of thick matiere and the depiction of mystic light enveloped in transparent glitter as well as profound spirituality, the paintings of Georges Rouault, representative French religious painter of the 20th century, have captured viewers' hearts regardless of their nationalities and religious backgrounds. After fifty years since his death, this exhibition will explore and re-examine Rouault through the world-renowned collection of his work in this museum, centering on the oil painting series "Passion" and the black and white print series "Miserere".

After graduating from Kyoto University of Art in 1991, Tadasu Takamine received the Special Encouragement Prize at the 2nd Sony Music Art Artist Audition in 1993, and then joined the performance art group Dumbtype from 1993-1997. After leaving Dumbtype, Takamine studied media art at the International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences (IAMAS) in Gifu prefecture. In 2002, he exhibited a huge 2-ton ironical video installation work called "God Bless America" at the 50th Venice Biennale, which paved the way for numerous other commissions and invitations to various art events both in Japan and abroad. Takamine is a multi-disciplinary artist working in installation, video and performance, and recent years have seen him compose and perform theatrical stage works by himself, further expanding the boundaries of his artistic practice. From the outset of his career Takamine has unfailingly tackled the variety and profusion of human life in all its forms and conditions with a knowing irony and ambivalence, reconfiguring his own bodiliness in an attempt to point out issues inherent to our own physicality. In this exhibition, Takamine tackles the electricity storage system found in dreams, the double-layered electrical supercapacitor. Abu Dhabi is an existing example of an artificial city whose energy needs are met entirely through natural energy sources, representing a shift away from an energy dependency on fossil fuels. In the middle of this new energy movement, supercapacitors have attracted particular attention for the possibility of large-scale and high-capacity electricity storage that they promise, and the key they hold to an important technology that will hopefully provoke an energy revolution: a durable, harmless energy storage device has long been the dream of the human race. The technology is now at hand, and its dissemination could change the world. However, the costs of the technology are still prohibitive, and capacitors are in general a costly proposition. This exhibition sees Takamine experiments with the branding of these enigmatic supercapacitor energy storage systems. This August, Takamine will be involved in a collaborative event together with musician Yoshihide Otomo at the Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media (YCAM). In November, he will also mount a solo exhibition at the Sendai Mediatheque, and publish a book with Kawade Shobo Shinsha.

"There is neither completion nor an end to painting. Accumulation is all." Kazu Wakita's own artistic "accumulation" was a testament to that fact, being itself an arduous journey. This exhibition draws from the print collection of the Kazu Wakita Museum, ranging from his early works produced in 1931, through the postwar era from 1953 onwards, up until 1989, a total of about 40 works that will be displayed in 2 parts. This will be the first public exhibition of these works. First period: April 15th (Tue) - July 30th (Wed) (20 works from the period 1931-1970) Second period: August 1st (Fri) - November 21st (Fri) (20 works from 1971-1989) *Closed on July 31st for exhibition change. *Closed from August 13th-17th for summer vacation.

This series of exhibitions presents new artistic styles that are becoming popular especially in painting genre. The artists presenting works here never attempt to show their naive fragility. They rather strive to generate new fields of art by executing their own rules, linking the society they live in and the world around them in innovative ways. -July 21st (Mon)-July 26th (Sat) Artists: Kenro Imamura, Katsuhisa Oe -July 28th (Mon)-August 2nd (Sat) Artists: Masumi Sato, Kanako Machi [Image: Kenro Imamura]

This is the 6th exhibition of Sun Jiapei at Gallery Silkland. This year marks the 20th anniversary since this artist first came to Japan. To commemorate this event, the artist's book will be published and available from the Kyuryudo publisher. Following Sun Jiapei's retrospective exhibition at Tokyo Central Art Museum between July 5th to 20th, this gallery presents his recent landscape paintings depicting beautiful scenes from China, Venice, and various places in Europe.

Wataru Fujita is a current graduate student of Tokyo University of the Arts, studying sculpture. This young, talented artist is deeply engaged in his studio work, developing a deep, delicate, and tranquil body of work that you can never forget once you see it. He pays extra attention to his materials and techniques he employs, pursuing his own way of visualizing his idea. Opening Reception: August 2nd (Sat) 18:00

While Japanese contemporary art market amounts to 2.5 billion yen per year, Chinese artists record sales of 3.0 billion yen at one-night auction. What do gallery people dream of in East Asian art market which is now experiencing the heyday of the bubble economy? In this event, Sueo Mizuma, the owner of Mizuma Art Gallery who opened a new gallery in Beijing last year, will talk about contemporary art market and ways to survive within it. Please join the event with a lot of questions. This is a great opportunity to discuss in person with Sueo Mizuma. Capacity: 30 people (reservation required) Fee: ¥1000 (includes 1 drink) Reservation: Please send an email to museumoftravel@gmail.com with the title "Camp Reservation" and the following information. Confirmation mail will be sent back within 24 hours. 1. event title: "TALK:0725" 2. name 3. email address 4. number of people attending

This is a solo exhibition by Minoru Araki, a stone sculptor whose work evinces a strong sense of liveliness. Pieces include recent work themed after apples, as well as his newest work, "Transparent Apples".

[Image: "Oratorio of Wind」 ed.15 (2006) water flat-sawn woodcut printing on Japanese paper]

[Image: "Portable House" (2008)]

[Image: "Life Box", mixed media, 22 x 32cm]