Posted:Oct 13, 2009

The Six: Tokyo’s new art school exhibition in Yokohama

There is a new addition to the Tokyo area art scene this year. The Six is a collaboration between six art universities, resulting in a first exhibition of students’ work.

The show brings together six students from each of the six universities – Tokyo National University of Fine Arts & Music, Tama Art University, Musashino Art University, Yokohama College of Art & Design, Tokyo Zokei University, and Tokyo Polytechnic University – for a museum-like show at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse.

Entrance to the reception and ceremony hall, where the artists were introduced and food designed by students was served.
Entrance to the reception and ceremony hall, where the artists were introduced and food designed by students was served.
Photo: AG

Paintings by Aika Furukawa and a sculpture by Bun Mushimoto
Paintings by Aika Furukawa and a sculpture by Bun Mushimoto
Photo: AG

Moving image installations and other installations.
Moving image installations and other installations.
Photo: AG
A narrow corridor that has been well used for the display.
A narrow corridor that has been well used for the display.
Photo: AG

Yonbini installation by four artists.
Yonbini installation by four artists.
Photo: AG

Yonbini shelf detail. A lot of works in the Six 2007 fall into the design category.
Yonbini shelf detail. A lot of works in the Six 2007 fall into the design category.
Photo: AG
A piece by artist group caarofivebalopa tour.
A piece by artist group caarofivebalopa tour.
Photo: AG

Visitors on the opening night might have been surprised by the high level of organization, finding a perfect exhibition space filled with highly polished works, and may feel a bit uneasy being greeted by artists dressed as though attending a job interview. A more casual approach might have been a bit more welcoming.

What was lacking on the opening night were Tokyo’s gallery and museum representatives scouting for new talent. Did the students forget about inviting those potential patrons or did the heads of the galleries and museums in Tokyo collectively not respond to the event?

Aneta Glinkowska

Aneta Glinkowska

Born in Poland. She has lived in New York since 1996, where she attended college and graduate school. To escape the routine of science labs in college, she went to the movies daily. Following an MA in Cinema Studies, she roams Tokyo as a writer, visiting art galleries daily and blogging about art events. She's looking for opportunities to write about art and cinema for all types of publications. Contact via email: aneta [at] tokyoartbeat [dot ]com.