Contemporary art in Japan – new challenges in the land of the rising sun
M-KOS sends sincere commiserations to all the people affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
Nobuyoshi Araki “Koki No Shashin (Photographs of A Seventy Year Old)” (2010) Courtesy of Taka Ishii Gallery via Yokohama Triennale website
Almost five months have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake devastated the northern east coast of Japan. Still in the midst of recovery, the country is fraying with an unprecedented nuclear crisis as well as support infrastructures towards people and business affected in the disaster.
Japanese people are well known for demonstrating a strong solidarity in times of need, and the sphere of contemporary art has contributed in this relief effort. Numerous art galleries and museums organised charity auctions*, artists initiated special projects in support of refugee communities, and countless other initiatives have been recorded. Japan’s current social condition is in everyone’s mind and, needless to say, contemporary art is facing new challenges in the land of the rising sun.
