(TOP image) Trophy of Nissan Art Award 2020. Product designer Keita Suzuki designed the product and produced it in collaboration with the Kaikado workshop in Kyoto, which has been in operation since 1868.

The "Nissan Art Award" was established with the aim of supporting outstanding Japanese artists in contemporary art and helping to develop Japanese culture for the next generation. This year, the fourth year, was held at the same time as the Yokohama Triennale.
The first screening was conducted in May 2019, and 5 artists were selected as finalists from 28 candidates who were recommended by curators and researchers. Grand Prix is decided on Wednesday, August 26!

Born in Shanghai in 1987, he moved to Japan during his childhood and is currently active in Tokyo. From his own experience, he is an artist who has been engaged in creative activities with the theme of "movement".

The motif of the work is the wave-dissipating block, so-called Tetrapot. We wrapped this up with an emergency sheet developed by NAS (a familiar item for disaster prevention), and announced a new installation that includes a video work. The wave-dissipating block, which normally does not move from the shore, wanders away from the "flock" in the sea, just like a spaceship. In a situation where the movement of a person named Corona is restricted, it makes me feel more than I intended.

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*Ban Yatsen <<where are you now>> 2020

The works of the finalists, including Mr. Ban, are all on display at the "Nissan Award 2020 Finalist Exhibition" held at the Nissan Pavilion in Yokohama (until September 22, 2020). I would like you to take this opportunity to experience the latest cutting-edge contemporary art, so let me introduce you to the atmosphere of the venue.

When you enter the exhibition hall, the first thing you will notice is Sachiko Kazama's Dislimpic 2020. It is a work released in 2018 that depicts the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games to be held in the fictional city of Dyslympia in the Emperor's year 2680 (2020). It is full of ominous elements such as the sun like a virus, and reminds me of the words, "Artists sometimes foresee the future," that was said at the press conference at Yokohama Triennale 2020.

* Sachiko Kazama 《Dislympic 2020》 2018

On the opposite wall, there are also four new works created for this exhibition.

* Sachiko Kazama "PAVILION-Fart of the Earth" "PAVILION-Monju Museum" <<¥=∞>> <<COUNT ZERO>> 2020

Soichiro Mihara seems to be an artist who blends natural phenomena and media technology, and the motif this time is "water." A plate that extends straight like a runway shows the three states of ice, water, and water vapor. It seems that some scientific equipment is installed, but the scenery in which the three states of water are lined up at the same time gives a fantastic nuance.

*Souichiro Mihara, "Nothing" 2020

This is Ei Wada's corner, which develops a participatory art project "Electronics Fantasticos!" that turns old home appliances into musical instruments.

* Ei Wada << Stateless Electromagnetic Orchestra: BC >> 2019

The "Electronic Musical Instrument Handbook" has been sent to five unfamiliar people living in different places, and a picture of a CRT television, a fan, a boombox, etc. assembled as a musical instrument to challenge the performance is displayed as a video. "Is this a musical instrument?" While twisting my neck, everyone seems to have fun.

The last is Nobuko Tsuchiya's corner, where he creates "sculptures" by combining familiar materials such as wool, silicon, iron shards, cotton, and plastics, as well as collected scrap materials.

*Nobuko Tsuchiya <<Mute-Echoes>> 2020

It looks good and comfortable, but don't touch the work!
Is it one work as a whole? However, since it's impossible to fit the whole thing in the camera, I tried shooting from various angles. (Free shooting inside the building!) While searching for an interesting angle, I felt like I was an artist and it was a little fun.

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The venue, the "Nissan Pavilion," is a facility where you can experience the future of Nissan's mobility through various contents. Not only cars, but also exhibits with entertainment such as games are full, and admission is free!
The Nissan Pavilion will be open for a limited time until October 23, 2020 (Friday), so be sure to visit.
*Art Awards will be on display until September 22 (Tuesday/holiday).

Personally, I was most interested in "CHAYA CAFE", where you can enjoy salads, sandwiches, craft beer, etc. made with Kanagawa ingredients. The menu offered here uses hydroponic vegetables grown only on electricity and water.

What I would like to pay attention to is the "Professional Pilot Waiter" that applies Nissan's driving assistance technology. It's a robot that automatically delivers the food I ordered, but it's simple, but it's kind of charming and I wanted to watch it all the time.

<< Nissan Art Award 2020 New Exhibition by Finalists》
[Period] Saturday, August 1, 2020 to Tuesday, September 22, 2020
[Time] Mon-Fri 11:00-19:00 / Sat/Sun 10:00-19:00
[Closed] Irregular holidays
[Venue] Nissan Pavilion
[Fee] Free