Wildflower art from around the world will decorate the streets of Yokohama! 8th Yokohama Triennale "Wildflowers: Alive Here and Now"
The Yokohama Triennale, an international contemporary art exhibition held every three years in Yokohama, will begin on 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 Yokohama Triennale Organizing Committee
Launched in 2001, the Yokohama Triennale boasts one of the longest histories of any art festival held in Japan. This year marks the eighth edition, and Beijing-based artists Liu Ding and Carol Yinghua Lu have been invited to serve as artistic directors. The festival will develop works and programs around the main theme, "Wildflowers: Alive 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, spoke of her thoughts on the Triennale: "Our society is facing major problems such as war, climate change, economic disparity, and intolerance. For the past 20 years, the Yokohama Triennale has used artworks created by people from all over the world to engage in dialogue with the different opinions of people from all regions, and to consider how individuals can join hands to survive in such a world."
This year's Triennale has two pillars within the broad framework of "Wild Grasses: Alive Here and Now." The first pillar is the international exhibition of the same name, "Wild Grasses: Alive Here and Now," organized by the artistic director. The theme of "Wild Grasses" is inspired by the poetry collection "Wild Grasses" by Lu Xun, a Chinese novelist who lived through a turbulent era. The international exhibition will trace historical events that took place over the 100 years from Lu Xun's time to the present day, while showcasing the works of artists who confront modern society and seek to bring about change. Artistic director Carol Yinghua Lu spoke about the theme of "Wild Grasses" in a video message:
"This year's Yokohama Triennale focuses on the connections between art and society, between art and thought, and the stories that art leaves behind in history. The symphony, titled 'Wildflowers: Alive Here and Now,' is made up of these diverse layers. 'Wildflowers' are sand, storms, rivers, stones, the night sky, and distant places. They represent the world as we perceive it. Throughout history, from the past to the present, we see insights into darkness and thorns, while also seeing petals and starlight."
Photography: Ryusuke Ohno
Photo courtesy of Yokohama Triennale Organizing Committee
Carroll's "symphony of many layers" is made up of seven chapters. From "Our Lives," which depicts the current state of our lives, to "Symbol of Depression," which expresses a critique of modernity, curator Yuko Katata explained that "each artist's way of life and message overlap in multiple layers, encouraging and stimulating our thinking about the future."
As of the online press conference, 67 artists and groups from around the world have confirmed their participation in the international exhibition. Of these, 30 will be exhibiting in Japan for the first time. Yoar Nango, who is of Sami descent, a nomadic reindeer herder people, confronts modern society's issues of resource shortages and climate change through temporary structures incorporating local materials, demonstrating a way for humans and nature to coexist in harmony. Additionally, the three-person collective Open Group, formed in Lviv, Ukraine, will present "Repeat After Me," a work that realistically captures the reality of the war in Ukraine, based on interviews with citizens who visited a refugee camp in Lviv following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
《Repeat After Me》2022 (video still), Courtesy of the artists
The international exhibition will be held at five venues, including the Yokohama Museum of Art. Among these, the exhibition can be enjoyed in free spaces at Queen's Square Yokohama and the passageway connecting to Motomachi-Chukagai Station on the Minatomirai Line. The Yokohama Museum of Art, which is reopening for this Triennale, has made efforts to provide a visitor-friendly viewing environment, allowing even those with small children or health concerns to enjoy art at their own pace. Unlike many art festivals that assume visitors are physically fit, one of the benefits cited is that "a Triennale is held in a museum venue, allowing visitors to view many works in a safe environment in one venue without having to walk long distances."
Photo: Takehide Shintsubo
While touting the benefits of a "triennale using an art museum venue," one of the features of this year's triennale is that it also realizes a "large-scale Yokohama Triennale that spreads throughout the city." This is the second pillar of the triennale: "Art Mori Mori!", a program organized by the city's cultural and artistic activity centers. Under the unifying theme of "wildflowers," local cultural and artistic centers will develop a wide range of exhibitions and programs. Including free programs, this is an event that can be enjoyed by everyone, from children to adults, and art novices to those who enjoy more serious performances. Set tickets for "BankART Life 7" and "Koganecho Bazaar 2024" and the international exhibition "Wildflowers" are also available.
The international exhibitions "Wildflowers: Alive Here and Now" and "Art Mori Mori!" are not only connected by a common theme, but both also return to the Yokohama Triennale's original goal of being "a quality introduction to contemporary art." At the international exhibition, almost all of the works are accompanied by concise, jargon-free, and easy-to-understand explanations, while "Art Mori Mori!" does not limit its programs to contemporary art, but instead features a wide range of genres and formats.
At the end of the press conference, General Director Kuraya summed up the features of the Triennale as follows: "It is a base that has considered art from an international perspective and with its feet on the ground in everyday life. With these two things, we hope that many people will be able to enjoy art from both an international and a local perspective." The 8th Triennale will be held from March 15th to June 9th, 2024. We hope you will take advantage of this rare opportunity to see "wildflower" art from around the world and the local area decorate the streets of Yokohama.
[Ticket Information] Advance tickets will go on sale from 10:00 on Thursday, January 18, 2024.
・People living in Yokohama City can purchase tickets at a discounted price.
Proof of residency will be required when purchasing tickets.
・If you have a student ticket, please present proof of student status (such as a student ID) at each venue.
・Even if you have already purchased a ticket or set ticket, you can upgrade to a free pass. The difference can be paid at the ticket window at the Yokohama Museum of Art venue.
Please pay. (The difference in price is 3,000 yen for general admission tickets and 1,800 yen for students, and 2,000 yen for general admission tickets and 1,000 yen for students.)
・Free admission for those with a disability certificate and one caregiver.
Event Overview | 8th Yokohama Triennale "Wildflowers: Alive Here and Now"
Artistic Directors: Liu Ding, Carol Yinghua Lu
Date: March 15, 2024 (Friday) – June 9, 2024 (Sunday) Opening days: 78 days
Closed: Every Thursday (except 4/4, 5/2, 6/6)
Opening hours: 10:00-18:00 (last entry 30 minutes before closing) | Open until 20:00 from June 6th (Thurs) to 9th (Sun)
Venues: Yokohama Museum of Art, Former Daiichi Bank Yokohama Branch, BankART KAIKO, Queen's Square Yokohama, Motomachi-Chinatown Station connecting passage
Organized by: City of Yokohama, Yokohama Arts Foundation, NHK, The Asahi Shimbun, Yokohama Triennale Organizing Committee
Collaborating locations: BankART1929, Koganecho Area Management Center, Elephant's Nose Terrace, Steep Slope Studio
Official website: here
[How to purchase]
Advance ticket sales period [From 10:00 on Thursday, January 18th]
Online: Visit the official website .
Venue window: Set ticket program Venue
・BankART Station (B1F, Shin-Takashima Station, Minatomirai Line)
・Koganecho Bazaar Information "Underpass Studio Site-A Gallery" (1-6 Koganecho, Naka-ku, Yokohama)
Please note: Advance tickets cannot be purchased at the Yokohama Museum of Art.
・Free passes will not be sold in advance. Tickets will be on sale at the Yokohama Museum of Art from Friday, March 15th.
・This is not a date and time specification (advance reservation).
During the event [Friday, March 15th - Sunday, June 9th]
Online: Visit the official website .
Venue window: "Wildflowers: Alive Here and Now" exhibition venue Yokohama Museum of Art
Set ticket program venue (as above for advance ticket venue)
Note
・Tickets cannot be purchased at the venues for "Wildflowers: Alive Here and Now," the former Dai-ichi Bank Yokohama Branch and BankART KAIKO.
・Free passes can only be purchased at the Yokohama Museum of Art venue. They are not available online.
