Performers deeply inhaling the air of our times, staring at their feet, their bodies full of stored energy, will appear in the room of a residential apartment housing Gallery Maki, on the banks of the Sumida river. August 18th-23rd Nimokakawarazu (Sanae Seki and Tsubasa Wada) Exhibition: August 18th-20th 12:00-19:00 August 21st-23rd 12:00-17:00 Dance Performance: August 21st (Thu)-23rd (Sat) starts 19:30 August 27th-30th Takao Kawaguchi Dance performance August 27th (Wed)-29th (Fri) starts 19:30 August 30th (Sat) starts 17:30 September 1st-6th Roku Hasegawa Exhibition: September 1st-6th 12:00-19:00 (Until 15:30 on the 3rd, 16:00 on the 6th) Dance performance: September 3rd (Wed) starts 16:00 September 4th (Thu), 5th (Fri) starts 19:30 September 6th (Sat) starts 16:30 Doors open 15 minutes before each performance.

Junji Shiotsu is an artist who has in recent years continued to extend the scope of his activities, participating in the 11th Taro Okamoto Prize for Contemporary Art (Taro Okamoto Museum, Kawasaki City, 2008) and the "Who's Next" exhibition at the Museum at Tamada Projects (2008). Using mirror sheets and resin, along with other artificial materials, Shiotsu creates installations that give rise to illusionistic effects, incorporating into them urban landscapes of symbols and signs, attracting much attention in the art world for his ability to draw viewer and work together, highlighting the relationship of individuals to contemporary society. This is his first solo exhibition in 2 years, produced by Makoto Hashimoto, who has continuously supported Shiotsu's work through the "Dialogue with the City" exhibition at BankART Studio NYK in 2007, as well as the "Who's Next" project. Guest curator Masaki Higuchi, who has also followed Shiotsu's work closely, has also been invited to participate in the organization of this exhibition. New installation works will be shown at two galleries that take an active role in promoting the work of promising young artists, Gallery K in Kyobashi and Artlantico in Kagurazaka. Collaborative event: performance by Mari Fukutome Date and time: August 30th (Sat) 16:00-/19:00- Venue: Gallery Artlantico Dancer Mari Fukutome will hold a performance in the exhibition space. Free entry. [Image: "Hamon" (2008), acrylic, PVC, mirror sheet, H444.6×W444.6×D5.3cm. Courtesy of the Taro Okamoto Museum Kawasaki City]

In addition to its rapid economic growth, China has gained much attention not only for the Beijing Olympics, but also for its contemporary art scene, which has made waves across the world. Since the period of reform and open-door policies dating from the 1970s, China saw new modes of expression emerge that were entirely different from socialist realism. Then, in 1979, the Star Painting Group held an exhibition that set a precedent for a new type of artistic activity whose focus was on the individual characteristics of each artist. Around the mid-1980s, a variety of avant-garde groups formed all over China, leading to the famed "85 Art Movement". Against a backdrop of information flows from Western Europe, these groups of artists took on domestic social themes, expressing them through various media ranging from painting, sculpture, performance and installation. At the beginning of the 1990s, a series of artists gained international attention through the art movements "political pop" and "cynical realism", after which more radical forms of art emerged. Thus, with accompanying globalization movements from 2000 onward, Chinese contemporary art has come to be recognized as a quintessential phenomenon that symbolized the opening up of the nation as well as its booming art market. Showcased at this exhibition are works by both well-established and up-and-coming artists, reflecting 20 years of Chinese contemporary art history in their individual ways. [Image: Fang Lijun "Series 2 No.3" (1992) oil on canvas, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum Collection]

Open Screening Session Date and time: August 9th (Sat) and 10th (Sun), 10:00-17:00 Venue: University Museum, Toride Annex, Tokyo University of the Arts Free entry, come and go as you please August 9th (Sat): Regular voting by visitors (until 12:00 on the 10th) August 10th (Sun) 14:00-17:00: Selection of exhibition plan by selection committee members and TAP The main venue for Toride Art Project (TAP) will be Toride Ino Danchi. The following programs will also be held at the 101 artist village studio on the Ino Danchi premises: TAP 2008 Guest Artist 23rd Citizens' Culture Festival - Participating Artists in Related Projects Ibaraki 2008 Selected Artists from the Open Screening Session Schedule Details: August 9th (Sat) Exhibiting works of guest artists and participating artists in the Korean International Exchange Program August 16th (Sat) & 17th (Sun) Exhibiting works of selected artists from the open screening session Venue: Ino Artist Village Studio 101 (Open 12:00-16:00) Exhibiting Artists: TAP guest artists Gasei Sato (painter), Namaiki (creative unit), Port B (theater unit) Participating artists in the Korean International Exchange Program: Sumi Kanazawa (TAP 2002), Isao Suzuki (TAP 2005, 2007), Camera Yamanaka (TAP 2006) TAP 2008 Main Exhibition Dates: November 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 14th, 15th, 16th Venue: Various locations in Toride City, Ibaraki Prefecture (Toride Ino Danchi and others) Guest producer: Mikan Gumi (architectural unit) Guest artists: Mikan Gumi (architectural unit), Gasei Saito (painter), Namaiki (creative unit), Port B (theater unit)

Mama!milk (http://www.mamamilk.net) is an acoustic-instrumental duo consisting of accordion player Yuko Ikoma and contrabass player Kosuke Shimizu. To celebrate the release of their new album 'Fragrance of Notes,' they formed a special ensemble with guest musicians Yuichi Inobori (trombone), Takeo Toyama (piano) and Tsutomu Kurihara (drums) to bring you this special concert at the Hara Museum. Enjoy the very last day of the summer with music! 1st set at 15:30, 2nd set at 18:30 Place: The Hall at the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, 4-7-25, Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo *All the advanced tickets are sold out. However, should you wish to be included on the waiting list, please contact us.

Event "Hirono Yamada Katsuben Film Screening" Fee: ¥1500 (1 drink included) Schedule: September 9th (Tue) 19:00-20:00, September 13th (Sat) 16:00-17:00 *Please visit exhibition website for more details. [Image: Asaji Muroi]