10 Things in Tokyo: March Round-Up

March is art fair season in Tokyo. The biggest event in the calendar is Art Fair Tokyo, happening over the weekend of March 20th until 22nd. This year it celebrates 10 years. Contemporary art will occupy roughly half the entire event space, while also including a special focus on the important historical Rimpa School of painting. Held at the Tokyo International Forum, Yurakucho. Meanwhile, 3331 Arts Chiyoda will be providing a more local, community-based alternative with the second year of Various Collectors’ Prizes, an art fair that encourages first-time art collectors above all. It runs from March 21st until the 29th in Kanda.

Shanghai artist Ling Meng (above image) creates “something between art and science.” His work is on display at Diesel Art Gallery in Shibuya until May 22.

Japan’s best (but largely underrated) new media and moving image festival, the Yebisu International Festival for Art & Alternative Visions, (Yebizo for short) continues until March 8 in Garden Place, Ebisu. Among the names this year are “keitai girl” Noriko Yamaguchi, Iraqi artist Adel Abidin, Contact Gonzo, photographer Takashi Homma, plus films by Ken Jacobs, Duncan Campbell, Salla Tykka, and horror director John Carpenter.

Kotori Kawashima, known best for his extremely cute photos of Mirai-chan, has a new series of photographs taken in Taiwan. See the exhibition at Parco Museum, Shibuya, until March 15. Starting soon, Kohei Nawa will be having a new solo exhibition at SCAI the Bathhouse in Yanaka. From March 7 until April 18. Go Watanabe‘s bedroom-themed works from the Aichi Triennale 2013, as well as prints inspired by his time spent in Finland, integrate elements of animation while experimenting with new techniques. On display at Arataniurano in Shirokane until April 4.

From the 19th through the 20th centuries and on to the present, this exhibition of Swiss design will showcase uniquely Swiss contributions to the fields of product, graphic, architectural, and interior design. The exhibition includes work by icons of design Le Corbusier and Max Bill alongside recent winners of the prestigious Swiss Design Award. Use the Mupon app to get a discount on admission. Until March 29.

See vintage contact sheets from highly influential Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, covering his designs for the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Kagawa Prefectural Government Office among others. “Tange by Tange” is on at Gallery Ma until March 28.

Pass the Baton is a store and gallery in Omotesando currently holding an exhibition about the host clubs of Kabukicho. These spaces, staffed by handsome young men, specialize in catering to female patrons. See photographs, personal items of the hosts, and a mini host club reconstruction. Until March 15.

And finally, what better way to welcome spring than with “Kaleidoscope of Birds and Flowers,” an exhibition of Japanese paintings since the Meiji era (1868-1912). Use the Mupon app to get a discount on admission. Until April 12.