Wildflower art from around the world paints the streets of Yokohama! The 8th Yokohama Triennale "Wildflowers: Living Here and Now"
The Yokohama Triennale, an international exhibition of contemporary art held every three years, will take place in Yokohama starting March 15, 2024. At an online press conference held on January 17, details about the features and program of the 8th Yokohama Triennale were announced.
Photo courtesy of the Yokohama Triennale Organizing Committee
The Yokohama Triennale, which started in 2001, boasts one of the longest histories among art festivals held in Japan. For its 8th edition, the festival has invited Liu Ding and Carol Yinghua Lu, both based in Beijing, as artistic directors, and will unfold works and programs related to the main theme, "Wildflowers: Living Here and Now," across a wide area from Yokohama Station to the Yamate district.
Mika Kuraya, director of the Yokohama Museum of Art and general director of the 8th Yokohama Triennale, shared her thoughts on the event: "Our society faces major problems such as war, climate change, economic inequality, and intolerance. For the past 20 years or so, the Yokohama Triennale has used art created by people from all over the world to engage in dialogue with diverse opinions from people in all regions, and to consider how individuals can join hands and survive in this world."
This year's Triennale is structured around two main pillars within the larger framework of "Wildflowers: Living Here and Now." The first pillar is the international exhibition of the same name, "Wildflowers: Living Here and Now," curated by the artistic director. The theme of "Wildflowers" is inspired by the poetry collection "Wildflowers" by Lu Xun, a Chinese novelist who lived through a turbulent era. The international exhibition traces the historical events that have occurred over the past 100 years, from Lu Xun's time to the present day, while introducing the works of artists who confront contemporary society and seek to bring about change. Artistic director Carol Yinghua Lu spoke about the theme of "Wildflowers" in a video message.
"This year's Yokohama Triennale focuses on the connection between art and real society, the link between art and thought, and the stories that art leaves in history. The symphony titled 'Wildflowers: Living Here and Now' is constructed from these diverse layers. 'Wildflowers' represent sand, storms, rivers, stones, the night sky, and distant places—the very world we perceive. Through history from the past to the present, we gain insight into darkness and thorns, while simultaneously seeing flower petals and starlight."
Photography: Ryusuke Ohno
Photo courtesy of the Yokohama Triennale Organizing Committee
Carroll's "symphony made from diverse layers" is composed of seven chapters. From "Our Lives," which depicts the current state of our lives, to "Symbol of Depression," which represents a critique of modernity, the works are structured in such a way that "the lifestyles and messages of each artist overlap in multiple layers, prompting and stimulating our thinking toward the future," as explained by curator Yuko Katata.
As of the online press conference, 67 artists from around the world have confirmed their participation in the international exhibition. Of these, 30 will be exhibiting in Japan for the first time. Yoal Nango, who is of Sami reindeer herding descent, confronts the issues of resource scarcity and climate change in modern society through temporary structures incorporating local materials, and demonstrates how humans and nature can coexist. In addition, Open Group, a trio formed in Lviv, Ukraine, will present "Repeat After Me," a work that realistically captures the reality of the war happening in Ukraine by interviewing citizens who came to refugee camps in Lviv following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
《Repeat After Me》2022 (video still), Courtesy of the artists
The international exhibition will be held at a total of five venues, including the Yokohama Museum of Art. Of these, visitors can enjoy the exhibition in free spaces at Queen's Square Yokohama and the connecting passageway to Motomachi-Chukagai Station on the Minatomirai Line. The Yokohama Museum of Art, which is reopening after renovations for this year's Triennale, has made efforts to provide a visitor-friendly viewing environment, so that people with small children or those with health concerns can enjoy art at their own pace. Unlike many art festivals that assume that the audience is physically fit, the Triennale highlights the advantage of "a museum venue where you can view many works in a safe environment without having to walk long distances."
Photography: Kenshu Niitsu
One of the distinguishing features of this year's Triennale is that, while highlighting the merits of a "Triennale held in a museum venue," it simultaneously realizes a "large-scale Yokohama Triennale that spreads throughout the city." This is the second pillar of this Triennale, "Art Morimori!", presented by cultural and artistic activity centers in the city. Under the unified theme of "wildflowers," local cultural and artistic centers will develop a wide range of exhibitions and programs. Including free programs, it is an event that everyone can enjoy in their own way, from children to adults, and from art beginners to those who prefer more serious works. Combined tickets with the international exhibition "Wildflowers" are also available for "BankART Life7" and "Koganecho Bazaar 2024".
The international exhibition "Wildflowers: Living Here and Now" and "Art Morimori!" are not only connected by a common theme, but both also return to the goal that the Yokohama Triennale has had from the beginning: to be a high-quality introduction to contemporary art. In the international exhibition, almost all works are accompanied by easy-to-understand explanations that do not use technical jargon, while "Art Morimori!" does not limit the works to contemporary art, but presents a program that covers a wide range of genres and formats.
At the end of the press conference, General Director Kuraya concluded by describing the characteristics of the Triennale: "It is a base that has considered art while keeping its feet on the ground and living each day with an international perspective. With these two aspects, we hope that many people will enjoy art from both an international and a regional perspective." The 8th Triennale will be held from March 15 to June 9, 2024. We hope you will come and experience this precious opportunity to see "wildflower" art from around the world and from the region coloring the streets of Yokohama.
[Ticket Information] Advance tickets will go on sale from 10:00 AM on January 18th, 2024 (Thursday).
Residents of Yokohama City can purchase tickets at a discounted price.
We will ask you to provide proof of residence when you purchase your ticket.
・Those with student tickets are required to present proof of enrollment (such as a student ID) at each venue.
・Even if you have already purchased an admission ticket or a set ticket, you can upgrade to a free pass. Please pay the difference at the ticket counter at the Yokohama Museum of Art.
Please make your payment. (The difference is ¥3,000 for general admission and ¥1,800 for students for the [admission ticket], and ¥2,000 for general admission and ¥1,000 for students for the [set ticket].)
• Persons with disabilities and one caregiver are admitted free of charge.
Event Overview | The 8th Yokohama Triennale "Wildflowers: Living Here and Now"
Artistic Directors: Liu Ding and Carol Yinghua Lu
Date: March 15, 2024 (Friday) – June 9, 2024 (Sunday) Opening days: 78 days
Closed days: Every Thursday (except April 4th, May 2nd, and June 6th)
Opening hours: 10:00 - 18:00 (Last entry 30 minutes before closing) | Open until 20:00 from June 6th (Thu) to 9th (Sun)
Venue: Yokohama Museum of Art, Former Dai-ichi Bank Yokohama Branch, BankART KAIKO, Queens Square Yokohama, Motomachi-Chukagai Station connecting passage
Organizers: Yokohama City, Yokohama Arts and Culture Promotion Foundation, NHK, Asahi Shimbun, Yokohama Triennale Organizing Committee
Partner locations: BankART1929, Koganemachi Area Management Center, Zou no Ushi Terrace, Kyuna Saka Studio
Official website: Click here
[How to purchase]
Advance ticket sales period [from 10:00 AM on January 18th (Thu)]
Online: Please visit the official website .
Venue counter: Set ticket program Venue
・BankART Station (Minatomirai Line, Shin-Takashima Station, B1F)
・Koganemachi Bazaar Information "Elevated Railway Studio Site-A Gallery" (1-6 Koganemachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama City)
Please note: Advance tickets cannot be purchased at the Yokohama Museum of Art.
・Free passes are not available for advance purchase. They will be on sale at the Yokohama Museum of Art from March 15th (Fri).
・This is not a date and time reservation (advance booking).
During the exhibition period [March 15th (Fri) - June 9th (Sun)]
Online: Please visit the official website .
Venue window: "Wildflowers: Living Here and Now" Exhibition Venue, Yokohama Museum of Art
Set ticket program Venue (as per the advance ticket venue listed above)
Please note
Tickets for "Wildflowers: Living Here and Now" cannot be purchased at the former Dai-ichi Bank Yokohama Branch or BankART KAIKO, which are venues for the exhibition.
• Free passes can only be purchased at the Yokohama Museum of Art venue. They are not available online.
