Japanese Contemporary Art and the World 1989-2010 (working title)

Reference Image: Tatsuo Miyajima, Mega Death, 1999 ©Tatsuo Miyajima, ©Estate of Shigeo ANZAÏ, 1999. Courtesy of ANZAÏ Photo Archive, The National Art Center, Tokyo

This exhibition is the first curatorial collaboration between the National Art Center, Tokyo and M+. It presents a historical survey of Japanese contemporary art between 1989 and 2010, bracketed by two major events in Japan’s recent past: the end of the Shōwa era (1926–1989) and the beginning of the Heisei period (1989–2019), and the Tōhoku Earthquake in 2011.The exhibition traces a trajectory of contemporary art in Japan beyond national and territorial frameworks, evolving through a rich array of international exchanges. Structured as two intertwined strands of iconic works of art and stories of lesser-known projects by artists during this period, the exhibition features Japanese artists living inside and outside their native country alongside works by international artists. It paints a picture of Japanese contemporary art as a complex, porous network of cultural dialogue and engagement, providing an alternative view to the established narrative of national singularity.The exhibition shows how Japanese contemporary art during this critical transitionary period examined and tackled major subjects, such as the nation's historical legacy and multiplicity of identities, while proposing possibilities of alternative communities. It also underscores the wide influence of Japanese art and visual culture in the first two decades of contemporary globalisation.

Related events

• 

  • Exhibition Related

  Symposium: How has Japanese contemporary art changed since 1989?

  November 8 (Fri), 2024